Odu Assures Hospitals Management Board Of Govt Support

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu has assured the Rivers State Hospitals Management Board of Government’s support.
Prof. Odu gave this assurance while playing host to Members of the Rivers State Hospitals Management Board who paid her a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Prof. Odu who stressed that Health remains one of the topmost Ministries because it affects everybody, the poor the rich, the old and the young, added that the State Chief Executive, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is desirous to prioritize effective healthcare delivery.
The Deputy Governor insisted that the Teaching Hospitals were actually designed for teaching but are now undertaking both teaching and curative functions which has increased the work load of the teaching hospitals.
She said Secondary Healthcare remains a strong link that is capable of reducing the burden faced by Primary and Tertiary Health facilities in the State, noted that the only way to fast track things that happen in the Secondary Healthcare sector is to provide funds because no matter how challenging it is we must find a way around it.
Prof. Odu disclosed that she was excited about the strategic plan the Hospitals Management Board was working on, adding that for the Board to have the support of development or bilateral partners, the Board must first have a strategic plan without which they would be seen as unserious.
“You are taking the right steps in the right direction, so I must congratulate you for hitting the ground running. It is a plus for your administration. I do not think any other administration had a plan, and I must commend you and your team for the thought of that, while you think out of the box beyond budgetary lines”. The Deputy Governor quipped.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Hospitals Management Board Prof. Daprim Samuel Ogaji said the Board during the course of the promotion exercise, which the Governor graciously approved, decided that key stakeholders would be met and the Deputy Governor is the first, that has given them the approval, noting that the meeting was an introductory one that would open channels of future communications.
According to the Board Chairman, they have recognized as a result of oversight that with the current health policy we run in Nigeria, secondary health services are the preserve of the State Governments, primary health is for the Local Government Councils, while tertiary health is within the purview of the Federal Government.
He however regretted that secondary healthcare has been under resourced and neglected over the years and solicited the support of the Deputy Governor to change the narrative.