RSG, ESI Begin Outreach In PH, Today

The Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), a Non-Governmental Organisation, will begin a three-day health outreach programme in the state.

The programme which begins today at the headquarters of ESI at 120 Woji Road, GRA, Port Harcourt would provide free medical check-up, treatment for public health situation, while treated malaria nets would be distributed to women and children.

Former Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker stated this at the weekend when he led a delegation of the state health mission to the headquarters of the ESI to fine-tune modality for kicking off the health programme intended to assist women and children, access free Medicare to reduce maternal and child mortality, and deworm the children.

He said the exercise was necessary to reduce the morbidity caused by malaria and untimely death resulting from attitude of residents especially women who do not go for regular medical checks and added that the medical mission was desirous to partner with the ESI due to its capacity and structure to reach out to women in the rural communities.

Also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Godwin Mpi said the Rivers State Government-ESI health medical mission will provide health service for about 200 people within the three days beginning from Monday and added that critical health situation will be referred to the state health facility.

According to Dr Mpi, other services that will be provided include screening for HIV/AIDS, counseling and advocacy on the use of the treated net, check-up for high blood pressure and other clinical services.

In her speech, Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi, who received the delegation, appreciated their effort to support and partner with the ESI on its health advocacy programme.

Mrs Amaechi, who is the founder of ESI, charged the health ministry to work out modality to provide forms along with treated mosquito nets to enable them achieve the objective of kicking out malaria in state.

She stated that the appeal was necessary because most residents especially women and children in the rural communities cannot afford forms and beds but rather sleep on mats and on the bare floors, eroding the essence of the scheme and fight against malaria.

The ESI/Ministry of Health mission begins today at ESI office at 120 Woji Road, GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt.