Rivers
Reps’ Committee On Health Lauds RSG On Primary Healthcare Delivery
The House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services has commended the Rivers State Government for improving healthcare delivery in the state, especially at the primary healthcare levels.
Chairman of the Committee, Amos Gwamna Magaji, gave the commendation when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to Rivers State, to monitor the utilisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
He said they were impressed with what the state government is doing at the primary healthcare levels, especially assigning of doctors to man the various primary healthcare centres in the state.
“First of all, let me commend the government and people of Rivers State for what they have done to improve on the primary healthcare delivery in the state.
“This is one of those states where we went to a primary healthcare centre and we saw a medical doctor there and it’s quite impressive that a state would mobilise doctors, in spite of the scarcity of human resource for health, and ensure that there is a doctor in primary healthcare, and I think that’s commendable”, he said.
He encouraged healthcare seekers among members of the public to visit the facilities to access healthcare.
“Many of the structures we visited, especially the level 3 facilities, they are good and we encourage people to visit them, use them because the purpose of bringing primary healthcare is to bring health closer to the people; and so if people are not using it, then the purpose is defeated”, he emphasized.
The Committee Chairman, however, urged the government to provide electronic monitoring devices in the facilities to enhance monitoring real time medical records and information generation, while also enhancing performance of the workers.
“We discovered that they are not connected with electronic medical records where they have real time information generated and encouraged.
“They should be able to have a dashboard, especially the primary healthcare facilities where they see every activity going on in their facility, and I think that would strengthen monitoring, supervision, and, of course, help the workers there to be on their toes to deliver on their mandate”, he advised.
Magaji encouraged the government to continue on its trajectory in the primary healthcare provision and ensure that in the nearest future all localities have a functional level 2 and 3 healthcare facility.
The Committee Chairman explained further that the essence of the visit round the states is to also check the functionality of the funds and to see whether states are contributing their own quota, and also find avenues for improvement.
“We are trying to fast tack the visits because very soon the budget will be presented to the House and we want to make informed decision looking at the budget.
“We are also thinking of having a line item in the budget for immunisation, so we want to know with the resources that many states are receiving, and then also know their contributory parts”, he stated.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Prof. Justina Jumbo, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, said the state remains steadfast in utilizing the BHPF and other federal government releases to provide access to healthcare for citizens of the state, especially those at the grassroots.
“In Rivers State, the Ministry of Health remains steadfast in its judicious utilisation of all health-related funds, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, to expand access to quality healthcare for our people, particularly those in the rural and underserved communities”, Jumbo stated.
She added that the ministry’s collective goals aligns with the Federal Government’s vision and the committee’s mandate to achieve universal health coverage in the country.
Prof. Jumbo further disclosed that the ministry’s programmes have been able to revitalise the 135 primary healthcare centres in the state.
By: John Bibor
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor