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RSG Begins Equipping Zonal Hospitals …As Wike Vows To Sanction Erring LG Officials
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that his administration has commenced the process of equipping recently completed Zonal Hospitals to take quality tertiary healthcare closer to the people.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Board and Management of Philips Project Centre Limited at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said that the Zonal Hospital, Degema and Zonal Hospital, Bori have been completed while the equipping process was ongoing.
He added that the Rivers State Government was also equipping the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt to provide specialist care to women and children.
“Health is very important to this administration. It is one key area that we are focusing on to improve the lives of the people.
“We are investing resources to equip the completed Zonal Hospitals that will soon come on stream. We have Zonal Hospitals in Degema, Bori, Etche, Ahoada and Omoku. We will equip Degema and Bori Zonal Hospitals because they have been completed”, he said.
Wike said that the Rivers State Government would partner with Philips Project Centre to equip the hospitals and train staff to maintain the facilities.
He directed the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and the Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare to work with Philips Project Centre to develop the health facilities for use by Rivers people.
“Whatever we will agree with Philips Project Centre must include training and retraining of our staff. We will partner to equip these hospitals”, he said.
The governor noted that his administration has so far equipped the former Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, now Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, with $6.5million.
The Executive Director, Philips Project Centre, Ayo Grillo called for partnership with the Rivers State Government to equip hospitals across the state.
Grillo said that the Philips Project Centre has special interest in Rivers State as the organisation has been working in the state for some years to construct and maintain healthcare facilities.
“We have a long history with Rivers State. We are keen to continue to work with Rivers State to develop the health sector. We bring trainers from abroad to train clinical and non-clinical staff with requisite knowledge on how to tackle healthcare challenges”, he said.
He informed the Rivers State governor that they operate internet-based applications to ensure efficiency, and promised to deploy ICT to make the state’s healthcare system effective and efficient.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that his administration would follow the due process of the law in implementing the report of the committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 local government councils, insisting that erring principal officers of the LGAs would be sanctioned.
He spoke when he received the report of the committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 local government councils from May, 2018 to May, 2019 at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The governor said, “If I was going to them to collect money, I wouldn’t get up to set up the committee. They would have indicted me. Some councils receive up to N2billion annually and there is a council that gets up to N5billion annually, yet no project”.
Wike said that the Rivers State Government would abide by the Supreme Court judgment that state governors cannot dissolve elected councils, but noted that the report presented by the committee exposed a scandalous rot in the local government system.
He said: “The Supreme Court has said that you cannot dissolve elected councils. We will obey the Supreme Court judgment on that matter.
“But we shall take action on the areas where we are empowered by law to act. All the treasurers, Heads of Personnel Management and other civil servants involved in illegal financial transactions will be sanctioned.
“I have read the preliminary report. It is bad. The report is scandalous. Tomorrow, they will say that I don’t remember those who fought for me. Did you fight for me, so that you can destroy the system”.
Wike said local government council chairmen are under obligation to work for their people and deliver dividends of democracy to improve their lives.
“I am quite satisfied with what the committee has done. It is not political, and things must be done the right way. We cannot continue to play while the people suffer. The problem with this country is that we take things for granted.
“As a local government council chairman, I created record as a performer. I did projects and worked for our people. I won all the awards”.
The governor urged council chairmen and top government officials to always work to develop their communities and leave worthy legacies.
He commended the committee for working in line with their terms of reference, adding that they focused on the task without attracting any form of scandal.
“I thank the committee for a job well done. I am quite satisfied with what the committee has done. It is not political and things must be done right. We cannot continue to play while the people suffer. The problem with this country is that we take things for granted”, he said.
The governor noted that he was not out to witch-hunt anyone, but remains committed to the development of Rivers State and the entrenchment of due process.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee set up to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 local government councils from May, 2018 to May, 2019, and Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, thanked the governor for his commitment to the development of Rivers State.
She explained that to ensure professionalism, the committee engaged three auditing firms to achieve the right results.
The deputy governor said that all the council chairmen and relevant officials participated in the exercise, stressing that the committee worked in line with best practices for the good of Rivers State.
She challenged the local government chairmen to see the exercise as a wake-up call to work for their people.
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.
