News
RSG Recommits To Care For HIV/AIDS Patients
The Rivers State Government has restated its commitment to facilitate treatment, and provide care and support for victims of the dreaded Human Immune Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as well as fast-track programmes to stave-off stigmatization and encourage reintegration through sensitization and capacity building.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme, who gave the reassurance on the sideline of “Health In Danger” stakeholders’ roundtable organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Port Harcourt, last week, explained that pragmatic measures, strategic structures and functional centres have already been put in place with experts to provide counseling services, conduct testing and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients.
Odagme emphasized that the state government, through the Ministry of Health and the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), has for decades been collaborating with the Society for Family Health (SFH), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other international donor agencies and funding partners to scale up testing and access to vaccines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS across the state.
The commissioner expressed excitement at the interest shown by the ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross in efforts to bridge not just the manpower and infrastructure but also technical deficit through well-articulated intervention measures to reduce the negative impact of an almost broken-down healthcare system.
He noted the readiness of the government to strengthen the capacity of SACA to deliver on its mandate by effectively and efficiently driving aggressive implementation of policies and programmes to combat the spread and prevalence of HIV/AIDS while reducing the burden of the disease on the state and its economy.
Odagme encouraged the people of state, especially those who may be vulnerable to the virus, to voluntarily visit any of the designated centres for counseling, testing, treatment and care from healthcare givers and professionals dedicated to providing such services to promote quality healthcare delivery in the state.
The commissioner praised the sterling records of impeccable voluntary humanitarian services, particularly in responding to emergency healthcare needs of victims of armed conflicts and violence across the globe, and hoped that the ICRC would deploy its huge resources, both human and material, to ensure that the challenges endangering sustainable healthcare delivery in the state are brought to the barest minimum.
In her remarks, the Head of Delegation, ICRC Office in Port Harcourt, Dorsa Nazemi-Salman, said that the international humanitarian organization decided to establish presence in the state because of its importance in the overall development of the country.
She said that recent cult-related violence in the state required concerted efforts of government and neutral institutions with reputation for providing unblemished emergency humanitarian services in the healthcare sector to reduce to burden of insecurity on the socio-economic growth and stability of the state.
The ICRC operations arrow-head in the South-South praised the foresight and doggedness of the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration to invest heavily in efforts to mitigate the consequences of the risk factors in the present socio-economic realities by partnering with all stakeholders to restore peace and confidence in the state.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
