Rivers
PUMS’ll Impact Rivers Positively, Nwanosike Assures
The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Engr Samuel Nwanosike, has noted that the presence of PAMO University of Medical Sciences trainee doctors in Ikwerre LGA would impact positively on the lives of his people and the entire state.
He made the statement, last Wednesday while granting audience to a delegation of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at his office in Isiokpo.
The PUMS’ delegation was in Ikwerre Council headquarters for an advocacy meeting with the chairman of Ikwerre LGA in order to galvanise his support to PUMS’ trainee doctors whowould soon be in area for a free medical outreach.
Nwanosike averred, “We believe that the presence of these trainee doctors would impact on us positively because as they are getting this training, somehow too, at a particular stage they will be posted to some of the local facilities around here to try their hands before will now exit.
“So, in that way, they are also offering service to our people and reducing the stress of manpower that we have”.
He promised the PAMO University students of safety while undergoing the free medical outreach.
While saying that medical doctors from the Rivers State Ministry of Health would be added to the trainee doctors for guidance, Nwanosike noted that the free medical outreach would be done at Model Health Centre, Adanta, Isiokpo, and Model Health Centre, Omagwa, in order to reach out to good number of people.
He revealed that he would construct a befitting residence in Isiokpo that would accommodate the student doctors during the period of the programme.
Nwanosike used the opportunity to commend Rivers StateGovernor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for awarding free scholarship to Rivers sons and daughters to study Medicine and Surgery at PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, saying that it was already rubbing off on the citizens of the state.
A Professor of Community Medicine who is on sabbatical at PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Prof Emmanuel Aguwa, while narrating why the delegation of PAMO University was in the area, asserted that PAMO University was a new university and one of the three universities in Nigeria that only train medical doctors and other allied professionals.
He described the students’ free medical outreach in Ikwerre LGA as a win-win situation, stressing that both PUMS and Ikwerre LGA would benefit immensely.
“So, what we come today is to get the political will. We can’t do anything without this entry behaviour. We must go through the right way by coming to you, sir, and the deputy chairman because without your supports nobody can do anything here”, Aguwa said.
The Director of Academic Planning, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Prof Ngozi Odu, who is the leader of the delegation, used the opportunity to eulogise Nwanosike for his unprecedented achievements.
She said, “I would want to take this opportunity as well to commend you on the tremendous good work you are doing in Ikwerre Local Government. It’s actually unprecedented. You just stand out and we want to say God will continue to guide and protect you and direct your footsteps so that at the end of the day your legacies would outlive each and every one of is that are here today. The work you are doing for your people is something that even in your old age it will be ringing a bell upon generations unborn”.
On her part, a Public Health Consultant and Lecturer at PUMS, Dr Chidinma Opara, reiterated that the foresight Wike has in investing on Rivers indigenes was turning to huge manpower for the state.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.