Rivers
Eleme LGA Assures On Restoring Ebubu Health Centre
Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State has assured on the resuscitation of the totally vandalised health care centre in Ebubu Community.
Executive Secretary of the Local Government, Barr. Joseph Moses Kattey, who gave the assurance, when the Association of Civil Society on Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) paid him an advocacy visit in his office, said the state government, through the Rivers State Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) has commenced efforts in refurbishing the health centre in Ebubu.
“Two weeks ago, the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board visited us. I represented the Chairman in that meeting, and the issue of the vandalised Ebubu Health care facility came up.
“In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Agiriye Harry said they (Board) are willing to fix the facilities,” he said.
Kattey, who represented the Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, however, said the Permanent Secretary expressed fear over the safety of equipment after the refurbishment of the health centre.
“Their fear was whether the facility will not be vandalised again. We (the LGA) assured him that it will not be vandalised because we have security in place now. It was vandalised in the past because people left the community for security reasons. We assured them that the facility will be protected now.
“So, we are working in synergy with the state government, through the Primary Healthcare Board. We’re willing to do the needful, because if the people don’t have functional health facility, it affects us, because the people are our people.
“If there’s any casualty, it’ll affect us, because we’re the primary authority for the security of our people, at the local level, so we know better.
“We already know about the State of the Primary Healthcare at Ebubu, and we’re working with the Board. The role we have to play is to make sure that nothing goes wrong,” Kattey said.
The Programme Officer of ACOMIN in Rivers State, Mrs. Maryjane Akwaka, had earlier called for the intervention of the LGA in the refurbishment of the Health center in Ebubu, which was bare of equipment.
In his response, Kattey had explained that the Ebubu Health Center, which was well equipped by the State Government, was vandalized years ago in the heat of internal crises warranted by between cult groups, which excalated and led to evacuation of the community, which gave room for the vandalization.
On his part, the State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, called on the LGA leadership to enhance healthcare services at the current makeshift Town Hall used as heath center by providing such essential commodities as regular water and toilet facilities.
“Water is very essential in a health center, in the same way as convenience. Without these commodities, no health facility can function adequately”, he said.
Assuring the ACOMIN delegation that provision of water and convenience will be given priority attention, Barr. Kattey further assured that the LGA boss will do the needful.
ACOMIN had earlier visited the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Woji Community, Sir P. W. O. Owhor, at the Woji Town Hall, over gaps noticed at the Woji Model Primary Healthcare Center (MPHC).
The Community Based Organization (CBO) working in Woji MPHC, Arinze Maduenyi Foundation (AMF), had identified gaps in power supply, water supply, damaged and rusted tank stand, leaking roof, plumbing work, electrical work, no refrigerator, no functional power generator, spoilt/faulty scale, and poor painting as gaps that required urgent attention.
The CDC boss assured that necessary attention will be given to the filling of the identified gaps by relevant stakeholders in the community.
By: Soibi Max-Alalibo
A professor of Parasitology and Public Health in the Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science at the Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, Prof. Gloria Ngozika Wokem, has advocated for the abolition of open water body latrine systems in rural riverine areas and open forest latrines in upland communities to eradicate water and food-borne diseases, popularly known as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), prevalent in Nigeria.
Prof. Wokem made this call while delivering her inaugural lecture at the 122nd inaugural lecture series of the university on the topic “Neglected Tropical Diseases and WASH Nexus: Breaking the Cycle for Human Sustainability” held in Port Harcourt, wednesday.
She described NTDs as a group of diseases prevalent among impoverished remote populations, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with limited access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and other healthcare essentials.
According to her, there are about 20 known disease groups shortlisted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), such as Guinea worm disease, Endemic Treponema pallidum infection (Yaws), Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) (sleeping sickness), leprosy (Hansen’s Disease), and onchocerciasis (River blindness), among others, adding that they are listed by WHO as control targets for the 2030 NTDs goals.
Prof. Wokem stated that for over thirty years, she has been working in the field of Neglected Tropical Diseases, or in other words, water and food-borne diseases. “These diseases come to humans through what we eat, what we do, and are so prevalent around us that not much information is known about them, which is why they are called neglected.”
She noted that NTDs affect not only Nigeria but 57.3% of the world’s population, including Africa, Asia, South and Central America, adding that wherever sanitation, hygiene, and safe drinking water are in limited supply, these neglected tropical diseases will flourish.
The professor called for all stakeholders to join hands to fight against the eradication of the dreaded tropical diseases ravaging the society, saying, “There is a role government will play and there are parts individuals will do.”
She however recommended among other things the employment of graduate parasitology and public Health Scientists groomed by the university for the continuity of the medical laboratory science profession which is in high demand
Earlier in his remarks,the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obi, lauded the lecturer and described the lecture as a testament to her professional prowess and a justification of her professorial appointment by the university.
The vice chancellor who was represented by the provost of the post graduate school of the university,prof T S K.Abam ,the VC aligned with the position of the lecturer that living a clean environment and washing our hands regularly will help to eradicate the NTDs in the society.
The University of Port Harcourt, has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of insecurity in Nigeria by producing security experts through its Institute of Niger Delta Studies (INDS), with the institute inducting its first graduating students into the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS), with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General E E Emekah, delivering a quality lecture on the topic, “Promoting Blue Economy In The Niger Delta: The Place Of Security”.
In his lecture, Major General Emekah emphasised the importance of security in promoting the blue economy in the Niger Delta region.
He noted that the activities of the Joint Tasks Force (JTF) are geared towards maintaining peace on Nigerian waterways and promoting productivity, and also stressed the need for a non-kinetic approach to security operations, winning the hearts and minds of the communities, and collaborating with security personnel to fight insecurity.
The GOC charged the inductees to ensure that their study/training provides practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
He emphasised the significance of their studies in UNIPORT, given the prevailing security threat to lives and property, especially on Nigerian waterways.
The Acting Director of INDS, Dr. Chukwu-Okeah, expressed satisfaction that the occasion marks a new milestone in the history of the institute, noting that the Niger Delta has been besieged with environmental and security challenges, and it is time to rise up and build the region through the blue economy ideology.
The blue economy, he explained, emphasises the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
He described the blue economy as the new oil well, with the potential to drive economic diversification, job creation, food security, and climate resilience in the region.
One of the inductees, Ayuba Tanimu noted that security is dynamic, and continuous learning and research have equipped them to serve their communities and Nigeria well.
He described the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS) as a body of security professionals that meets annually to craft security policies for the country.
The programme, which attracted prominent individuals from the academia, security, and other sectors had the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka, as its chairman.
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