Nation
Bwari Residents Seek Affordable Healthcare Services
A cross-section of the residents of Bwari Area Council in the FCT, Abuja has appealed to government at all levels to make healthcare services affordable in rural communities.
The people made the appeal on Monday in separate interviews with The Tide’s source in Bwari, Abuja.
They argued that affordable healthcare for rural dwellers would help to encourage the people to patronise health facilities when they fall sick.
A security man, Mr Johnathan Awayi, said that many families in the rural parts of the counci were finding it difficult to access health services because of cost.
Awayi further said that many had lost their loved ones “because their relatives could not afford high medical bills” charged to treat serious ailments.
According to him, serious health challenges are also beyond the capacity of the primary health centers situated in the communities.
“When you visit a health center close to you, thinking your problem is malaria or typhoid and they run tests and find out it is more than that they refer you to a bigger hospital.
“Sometimes, even the transportation to the hospital becomes a problem.
“Moreover, when you get there, they subject you to more tests, which costs more money.
“It is even worse, when you are admitted because the cost of admission per night in a general hospital here is not what a rural dweller can afford”, Awayi said.
He further said some people return home to their fate once they have a referral to another hospital for a broader check on their health status and at the end of the day, they die without medical attention.
“Some cannot even afford to pay for routine tests or minor surgeries in government-owned hospitals, let alone the private ones.
“Things are really hard now so government and private hospitals should help the rural dwellers by subsidising the cost of medicare for them”, Awayi said.
Also, a house wife and mother of four, Madam Esther Jonah, said that she lost her baby because she could not afford to pay for incubator, when she had a premature delivery.
Jonah said, “My husband is a labourer, who earns daily income and has no savings to cater for such an emergency, when it happened”.
She also frowned at the “insultive attitude” of some health workers towards the poor and vulnerable at public health fscilities.
“The attitude of some of these health workers is barbaric and make some sick persons to go home out of frustration”, she said.
Jonah admonished health workers to show sympathy and empathy to the sick rather them mock them.
“The attitude of health workers matter a lot.
“They need reorientation on how to relate with patients battling with severe health cases”, she said, adding that “some of them, especially the women, can be inconsiderate and unreasonable.
“At least, even if someone cannot afford something, don’t rub it on their faces.
“Instead, find a means of helping them and not make them regret coming to the clinic”, she said.
Mr Yakubu Sabo said subsidising the cost of health care, including child delivery, would help to address child and maternal mortality in rural communities.
Sabo said: “I know some of us in the rural area need to be educated on family planning for birth control because we cannot afford the cost that comes with delivery sometime.
“However, in cases where the unplanned happens, I plead for assistance from the health providers.
“Let’s not be tired in doing good. Nothing is easy and I don’t pray for anyone to go to the hospital for anything now, I advise everyone to watch their lifestyle”, he said.
A health worker in Sabon-Gari area of the district, Mrs Deborah Gwazah, blamed some of the challenges in the healthcare services at the community level on the lack of sufficient medical personnel and facilities.
Reacting to the issue, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue to provide improved healthcare services in all the communities in the area.
Gabaya said in 2022, his administration organised a free medical outreach for the people of the area in line with the council’s mandate.
He also said that his administration implemented various vaccination campaigns, maternal, newborn and child health programmes across the district.
Nation
NCSU Consoles Elder Statesman Over Daughter’s Death …Tasks Elected Unit Executives On Service Delivery
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has extended its condolence to an elder statesman in Rivers State, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe over the untimely death of his daughter during child birth, describing it as saddening and unfortunate, and called on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) chieftain to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
This is even as NCSU has called on the newly elected executives of the union at the unit level and Ministries in the State Civil Service, to be dedicated to their duties, as well as deliver services that would further help the State to retain its prime position in the comity of States.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in Port Harcourt, said the union seriously empathises and sympathises with Chief Sara-Igbe over the daughter’s death, and urged him never to allow the sad incident to weigh him down, but to remain strong, firm and resolute in championing the cause of Rivers State even in the face of such a tragedy.
Osumah noted that the union is particularly sad over the unfortunate incident, because of the kind of support Chief Sara-Igbe has been giving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as a true pillar of strength to the Governor, and enjoined him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the progress and development of the State in spite of obvious challenges and drawbacks.
According to him, history would be kind to Chief Sara-Igbe, when the chips are down, owing to his immense contributions to the State and also for standing on the side of truth, justice, equity and fairness,when it matters most.
Commenting on the election of new unit executives of the union, Osumah said he was glad over the development, and urged the new union officials to be good ambassadors of their units and the union.
He said delivering selfless services to the people of the State should always be their priority, and congratulated them on their successful elections.
Nation
RSG Donates Transformer To Rehabilitation Centre
The Rivers State Government has donated a 500KVA transformer to the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Power, Prince Solomon Abel Eke, who handed over the transformer to the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr Illamu Arugu thanked Governor Siminalaye Fubara for the approval and release of the transformer, adding that it would go a long way in solving the power problem at the centre.
“I want to thank God for the Governor that we have, who takes time to look at things meticulously and ensures that our people get service for what they are doing”.
He said following the request by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation for a transformer for the rehab centre, a team of engineers from the Ministry of Power were sent to the area to take cognizance of everything that they need.
“I can assure you that what we are doing or what we are going to do here is going to put to rest everything about power.
“The capacity of this transformer you have here will take care of you even the neighbouring enviroment”, Abel Eke said.
He emphasised the need for them to preserve the transformer, stressing that the transformer has the capacity to generate and distribute electricity within the centre and neighborhood.
The commissioner warned them against allowing people to scale their fence to either vandalise or steal the transformer and described the gesture as a road map for constant power supply in the State.
“We are the only State that has three generating stations in the entire nation and we practically moving towards enjoying 24 hour- power supply in Rivers State”, he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, MrArugu Illamu who was elated for the donation, said it was based on a request by the rehabilitation centre, when he visited the area recently.
Illamu equally thanked Governor Fubara for the gesture and the promptness to which their request was attended to and noted that it was coming at a time the people needed the transformer badly.
He said even caregivers in the centre also needed power, adding that “it is coming at a time that they need it most”.
Mr Ilamu also commended the Governor for approving transformer to the Safe Home, Borokiri, adding that the Governor has so far given approval for the three transformers requested by the Ministry and prayed that the last transformers for the Children Home and Remand Home should be delivered as well for them to have some level of succour.
He said the gesture will go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the people by allowing them to enjoy what he called “ the basics of life”.
Iriebe John Bibor
Nation
Community Hails Fubura Over Perm Sec’s Appointment
The people of Ogbogolo kingdom in Ahoada -West Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the appointment of their i daughter, Dr. Mrs Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu as the Permanent Secretary of theMinistry of Education.
The Paramount Ruler of the community, King James Rowland, Obenema-Ibe III of Ogbogolo Kingdom made the commendation when he led a delegation of elite members of his kingdom on a courtesy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary at the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The Paramount Ruler asserted that Dr Uzoma-Nwogu was the first person from his Kingdom to be given an enviable appointment as a Permanent Secretary, stressing that Ogbogolo Kingdom is very appreciative of the Governor for the honour done to their daughter and the Kingdom at large.
He further prayed God Almighty to give her the wisdom and grace to carry out her duties effectively as would be required by her office and later presented her with an award of honour in recognition of her appointment as Permanent Secretary.
Also speaking, one of the elites in the Kingdom and university lecturer,Dr. Arobo R.C Amachree ,who is the Head of Department of Physics, Rivers State University described the elevation of Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu as meritorious and thanked the Governor for remembering the people of Ogbogolo and prayed God’s wisdom on His Excellency to continue to govern the state while pledging their support.
In her response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uzoma-Nwogu thanked her kinsmen for identifying with and for the respect and honour they accorded her and solicited for their support and prayers.
Akujobi Amadi
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