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Development Without Quality Healthcare System Is Useless -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that every effort at achieving development in any society will come to waste if the health of the people is not adequately factored into it.
This, he said, accounts for why his administration was intensifying efforts at reviving the near comatose health sector that operated without an effective secondary healthcare facilities in the State.
Fubara stated this when he received a delegation of the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by its National President, Dr Uche Ojinmah, at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, also stated that Fubara also confirmed the appointment of Prof. Chizindu Dike Alikor as the substantive Chief Medical Director of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
The governor explained that provision of quality healthcare service and development efforts needed to be properly integrated to achieve the overall goals.
He said workers, and indeed, all citizens needed to be healthy if they are expected to be productive and contribute their quota to advance governance.
“The governor and his team cannot succeed without your support. That is the truth, and any government that has the interest of its people at heart must pay adequate attention to the provision of quality healthcare services.
“Healthcare goes with development. That is the truth. Your workers need to be healthy to be productive. If you put everything in place and you don’t have good health, then your people will be under-productive.”
Fubara said that as a government that means well for the people, it was solving the plethora of issues inherited in the health sector without making noise about it.
He explained that health facilities, particularly those that provide intermediary services were being rebuilt and strengthened, zonal hospitals would be revived while the personnel are adequately being motivated because they are critical partners in government.
According to him, those were achieved by approving and implementing promotion for health workers, implementing consequential salary for them, paying hazard allowances and many other incentives.
“I don’t think when you do what you’re supposed to do, you need to be commended. It is not proper. It is the duty of the government to care for its workers and that is what I’ve done.
“I will put it this way: I want to appreciate the NMA – both national and state chapter – for your support, your patience. I know it wasn’t easy, it has never been easy for them even with what we have done, it’s still not sufficient. We need to do more.
“I want to thank you for your support, and we, on our part, will continue to do our best to ensure that, at least, the relationship between us does not go bad,” the governor said.
In his speech, the National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Uche Ojinmah, said he led the delegation to thank the governor for what he has done to better the lot of medical personnel in the State.
Ojinmah recalled that he was in Port Harcourt two years ago to beg the previous government to promote medical workers, increase their salary, pay them hazard allowances plus other incentives but was ignored.
He noted that Fubara had, without prompting, attended to those concerns, including employing more personnel, and rescuing the NMA Secretariat from crumbling.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of NMA, Dr Ebi Robinson, said they wrote their national body to inform them about what they have started enjoying under the Fubara-led administration.
Robinson listed the promotion of personnel who were stagnated for 10 years, increase in salary payment, gift of utility bus to the association, appointment of their members into several boards as some of the benefits NMA members have enjoyed under Fubara’s leadership, and pledged continued support of the association to the government.
He stated that the implementation of those welfare packages has motivated medical doctors and workers to put in their best to improve healthcare service delivery for the benefit of Rivers people.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
