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Dream Of Making Rivers Medical Hub Achievable -Odu
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has said that the dream of making Rivers State the hub of efficient and effective healthcare delivery is achievable.
Odu stated this during the Biennial General Meeting of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Government Hospitals Chapter (MDCAN) on Wednesday, at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt.
According to the deputy governor, with the array of eminently qualified MDCAN members in the State Government’s health facilities, one can postulate without any fear of contradiction that Rivers State can attain that status, adding that the Rivers people deserve optimum healthcare from a robust medical system reinforced by world class facilities.
The deputy governor said the Governor Siminilayi Fubara-led administration was poised to provide the enabling environment and logistics to ensure the reduction of the diseases burden of the Rivers people.
She noted that the theme “Medical Practice in the Face of a Dwindling Economy”, is apt and underscores the importance of making the health facilities user friendly.
“We welcome ideas from the MDCAN on additional measures to strengthen medical welfare, cancer interventions and healthcare access for all. Together, we can build an equitable and responsive platform able to deliver quality care for patients whilst upholding practitioner wellbeing”, the deputy governor further stressed.
She urged them to continue to do all within their powers to provide the necessary care in order to give their patients succour and a sense of hope and belonging, while providing the needed leadership to younger doctors and other health professionals.
Odu commended the out-going Leadership of MDCAN, Rivers State Government Hospitals Branch, for a successful tenure and expressed the hope that the in-coming Executives will consolidate and improve on what they met on ground.
In her opening remark, the Chairman of MDCAN, Rivers State Government Hospital Chapter, Dr Mbak Ebong, commended the Fubara-led administration for its desire to move the health sector of the state to an enviable height, with the recent commissioning of the Dental Maxillofacial, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Ophthalmology Hospital as well as the Professor Kelsey Harrison Hospital.
Also speaking, the representative of the Chairman of the occasion, and Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Prof. Chituru Orluwene, noted that the university was doing all within its powers to ensure that the welfare of doctors is taken care of, stressing that the present State Government is working assiduously to ensure a better welfare for health professionals in the state.
Highlight of the occasion was the launching of an 18-seater bus procured by the leadership of MDCAN, Rivers State Government Hospitals Chapter by the deputy governor.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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