Developments In Rivers’ Health Sector  …A Leap To Greater Height

The Holy Scriptures was apt when it recorded in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 29 verses 2 that “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”. This became evident in our dear state under the visionary leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara CON, GSSRS anchored by our amiable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh. In the year under review, the implementation of Rivers State Health Insurance with 20,000 lives enrolled between April and August 2024 was made possible. This is not a paper work, but something on record for everyone to see.  Another point to note was that of Lassa Fever Outbreak. The swift containment of the Lassa Fever outbreak was greeted with superior attention by the State Government under the supervision of the Honorable Commissioner. Going down the lane, proactive emergency preparedness and response against Cholera outbreak was also recorded. One may be tempted to imagine, what would have been the fate of Rivers people and its residents, if Fubara did not become the Governor, or had  Oreh  not  been nominated as the Health Commissioner.

The reactivation of 24/7 Rivers State Emergency Ambulance Service and accreditation of Rivers State School of Nursing to College of Nursing Sciences by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria are another issues to ponder on. In all of  these, politics was put aside while governance and care for the people rented the air. Increase in quota for admissions at the Rivers State College of Nursing Sciences by 142 percent  , completion of 400 Capacity Classroom Block for College of Nursing Sciences  and the current recruitment of 1000 healthcare workers for the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) and Rivers State Hospitals Management Board are another set of invaluable feat for the Health under the supervision of Dr. Ureh.There are further the issues of increase in scholarship recipients at Pamo University of Medical Sciences by 50 percent ( 50%),  ongoing construction of Drug Rehabilitation Centre,  and renovation of Zonal Hospitals and General Hospitals across the street.

Before now, most General Hospitals in the State were just a shadow of itself. They were better recognized by some paintings and photo portraits hunged on their respective receptions. Things are actually fell apart in the governance of the Hospital cum Health Management in the state, because of what health pundits viewed as mediocrity. It did not take long after the advent of the present administration, things like construction of Staff Quarters, Laundry, and Mortuary at Zonal Hospitals,  and  new General Hospital in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area begin to crop up.These were what many in the state have viewed as impossible. But those with fore sight and whose firm believe are anchored in God Almighty, know that things will naturally get fixed in the state.The upgrading of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, inaugurations of Taskforce against Substandard Hospitals, Clinics & Diagnostic Facilities ,  Taskforce against Fake and Adulterated Medicines are another great achievement of the Government in the Health Sector.

There is this local adage that says that ” That the best way to hold or control rain was to first and foremost, control the lightening”,. This of course, was what the Governor via the Health Commissioner considered in the attempt to give the Health Sector a facelift.Without given attention to things like fake and adulterated drugs control, the system would not have been brushed off counterfeits. Though, drug adulteration and counterfeits are a sort of global concern, but could be brought under control when a good mercenary is in place.We also recorded the renovation of 35 Primary Healthcare centres across the 3 Senatorial Districts of the state and hosting of Team from the Royal Salford Hospital United Kingdom for Advanced Specialist Training in Renal Care  (Nephrology) at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Establishment of six (6) Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) Sites across the three (3) senatorial districts of Rivers State to address childhood malnutrition and reduce the burden of underweight, stunted, and acutely malnourished children in the state. These were tagged as the first of its kind in Southern Nigeria.

The  State-wide Master Training in Safe Blood Surveillance (Haemovigilance) to enhance blood safety ,  developed and circulated a user-friendly specialised tool to begin formal reporting of blood transfusion reactions to enhance blood safety in Rivers State are among the many achievements at instant of the present Government in the Health Sector under the supervision of the Commissioner. The introductions  of Eye Care Services into the portfolio of healthcare services at the primary care level, Mental Health Services into the portfolio of healthcare services at the primary care level and that of the Obstetric Imaging/Uktrasound for Pregnant women into the portfolio of healthcare services at the primary care level are other things worthy to noted.The  implementation of the Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services Programme (CHIPS), introduction of Midwives Services Programme in Rivers State, introduction of Oxygen programme in Primary Healthcare and the introduction of Gender Integration in Primary Healthcare are still among the credits recorded in the Health Sector.

One would not forget in a hurry the inauguration of Rivers State Health Committee for the Southern Religious and Traditional Rulers Engagement Project (SORTLE). I can beat my chest that the state never had it this way before now. These are clear testimonies that one can leverage on to make good defense for the present administration.  The development of Minimum Service Package for the provision of quality PHC services , Free Malaria rapid diagnosis, Antimalarial treatment across State Healthcare facilities  and improved maternal morbidity  mortality and improved child immunisation coverage, all came with the Fubara Government.Opening of Burns Treatment and Care Unit ,  Modular Surgical Theatre, construction and  Pathology Laboratory for diagnostics and training purposes in RSUTH are second to none. The reconstitution of Boards – Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Rivers StateHospitals Management Board ,  the unblocking of the promotion of Healthcare workers, harmonisation of Doctors Salaries to align with Consolidated Salary Scheme of Federal Government  and payment of Hazard Allowances for Doctors are all witnessed under Fubara.

Others include, payment of Residency Training Grants 2023-2024 for 379 doctors in Rivers State, accreditation of Paediatrics Training Programme in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital by National Poatgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the opening of 12 ICU bed spaces at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.One can go on and on without exhausting the achievements of the present administration. These are the things that gladden the hearts of the governed ( the people). Things that will make them feel the impact of the government around them. Most of the people are not chanced enough to even visit the Government House or attend any state function, but will rejoice, if the afore stated developments are at their reach. The expansions of bed spaces in Orthopedics and Trauma and  bed spaces in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital by 163 beds are also good developments. The South-South Award for Primary Healthcare Leadership (UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote  Foundation & Nigeria Governors’ Forum), Public Health Excellence Award by United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and  National Award in Tuberculosis control implementation abstract writing for the Public Health Department at the Rivers State Ministry of Health are further support and prove of the good deeds of the Governor Sim Fubara -led administration.

The recent commissioning and Commencement of Medical Oxygen Plant donated to RSG by UNICEF, Canadian Government, and IHS Towers at Eleme Generally Hospital, which did not in anyway, suggest a kind of End- of-Discussion for the Government in Health Sector, brought or open new page of challenge for the Government in the sector under review. Indeed, when”  The Righteous Rule, The Peopleby Rejoice “

By: Leslie  Eke

Leslie Eke, is the Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom Nyerisi Eli Woji ( Eze Woji XII), Chairman Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, Eze Gbakagbaka and a Public Affairs Analyst.