‘WAD’s Theme Confirms Wike’s Commitment To Healthcare Dev’

Rivers State Commissioner for Health,Prof Princewill Chike, has stated that the theme of the 2020 World AIDS Day (WAD) is in line with the commitment of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in terms of improving healthcare delivery in the State.
Noting the theme, “Global Solidarity, Resilient Services”, by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Commissioner said, “this year’s theme actually underscores the commitment of this administration to improving the health service delivery to be resilient and sustainable through global partnerships and collaborations”.
Consequently, he said, as the State marks the 2020 WAD, “it is partinent to underscore the huge effort by government to strengthen healthcare delivery frameworks for better services delivery”.
The Governor, the Commissioner continued, “is committed to the NEW Vision of repositioning of the Primary Health Care centres, upgrading of the secondary health care facilities, and standardising care in the State-owned Teaching Hospital to meet international best practices.
“The establishment of the State-owned medical school at the Rivers State University, and the Mother and Child Hospital are age-long promises fulfilled for resilient and sustainable delivery of health care services to the people of Rivers State”, he said.
Prof Chike used the opportunity to enumerate some significant progress made by the State Government in confronting HIV/AIDS in recent times.
According to him, this include “significant improvement in linkage and retention as a result of user-free waiver for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH) receiving services in the State”, adding that the State has also approved payment for Ante-Natal Care (ANC) for Positive Pregnant Women (PPW).
“As part of on-going programmes and highlights for the WAD commemoration, the State AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Control Programme, in conjunction with supporting partners, have already embarked on massive case-finding and linkage to care of identified positives in all Local Government Areas in an effort to pursue epidemic control”, he said.
The State Health boss stated further that “multi-month dispensing of drugs was adopted, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19 to ensure increased access to treatment.
“These are clear indications of our commitment to improving access to health services for HIV and ultimately improving patient outcome. Patients are living happier lives, receiving quality care without stigma in convenience and ambience of confidentiality”, he said.
While urging everyone to be advocates of HIV preventive behaviours in wherever they find themselves, the Commissioner concluded that “achieving an HIV-free generation is a task this administration is proud to pursue”.
The WAD is commemorated globally on December 1 annually.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo