Poised to maintain her position as the best-performing state in the South-South region in the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge contest, the Rivers State Government has promised to continue investing heavily in health care infrastructure.
The stated reason is that it touches lives, protects communities and builds a healthier future for the people of the State.
The Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Odu, revealed this while inaugurating the newly installed Solarised Walk-in Cold Room, and Vaccine Vial Crushers at the headquarters of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board along Aba Road in Port Harcourt. She also commissioned nine operational Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles for disease surveillance in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Professor Odu, who represented Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the unveiling ceremony, restated the commitment of the government to build and bequeath a functional and accessible basic health care system to the people and residents of Rivers State. The Deputy Governor praised the Management of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board for winning the South-South Leadership Challenge for a second consecutive time, and also emerging as national runner-up, only behind Anambra State.
For emerging the champion in the South-South for the second year running, Rivers State received $500,000 each for both 2023 and 2024, demonstrating the consistent hard work of the health teams of the State.
The Deputy Governor, who is also Chairman of the Rivers State Task Force on Primary Health Care, disclosed that the installation of a modern cold chain facility at the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board represents the State Government’s dedication to maintaining vaccine efficacy and ensure that every child or adult receives potent, life-saving immunisations, pointing out that the event was not just a mere inauguration of equipment, but a determined effort to strengthen the foundation of primary health care delivery in the 23 LGAs.
“Under the watch of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the administration has consistently prioritised health care infrastructure that would directly impact communities in the State. This comprehensive approach of combining storage facilities, vaccine management equipment, and mobility solutions reflects the administration’s understanding that effective healthcare delivery requires robust systems, infrastructure and a dedicated workforce,” Professor Odu told the gathering.
She expressed deep appreciation to such global partners as the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Educational Fund Fund (UNICEF), and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), among other development partners for their commitment and unflinching support, adding that their valued partnership has given the State great mileage in achieving her targets in the critical health sector.
Professor Odu commended the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and Management of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, and staff for their concerted efforts in ensuring that Rivers State maintained the leadership position of primary health care in the South-South zone and aiming to conquer the centre.
The event was organised under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and supported by UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The initiative is anchored on the Seattle Declaration agreement for stronger sub-national leadership in primary health care in Nigeria and aims to revitalise the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy, which aims to galvanise stronger commitments from State Governors to promote a progressive increase in PHC funding and delivery. The initiative is geared towards ensuring improved infrastructure in all primary health care centres with strengthened human resource capacity.
In her remarks, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Comfort Mekele Igwe, stated that the commissioning of the equipment and vehicles would greatly enhance vaccine storage, disease surveillance, and effective health care delivery in the State.
“The commissioning of these equipment and operational vehicles today represents the Government’s commitment to improving the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the primary health care system in Rivers State. The Ministry of Health will continue to closely monitor the health indices in the State to ensure proper health care delivery to our people,” Dr Igwe said.
In his address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RSPHCMB Professor Blessing Jaja, restated the resolve of the Board to ensure that all Rivers people have access to adequate and cost-effective health care. “Under the leadership of the Deputy Governor and the State Commissioner for Health, the Board has attained greater heights in effective service delivery to the people. I wish to thank Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his robust support towards efficient and accessible basic health care in the State,” the Chairman said.
Executive Secretary of RSPHCMB, Professor Kinikanwo Green, who described the Solarised Walk-in Cold Room as one of the best in Nigeria, stressed that the vehicles and motorcycles will help Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and support staff to access hard-to-reach areas of the State.
“The equipment, vehicles and motorcycles being commissioned today will help to strengthen primary health care delivery, ensure access to universal health care, give wider accessibility to immunisation and help to reduce the disease burden in the state.
“I wish to commend Governor Fubara for paying close attention to basic health, which covers about 80% of the entire health care needs of the populace. The Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, have been quite exemplary in their total commitment to propelling us to where we are today in primary health care delivery,” Professor Green said.
In his contribution, the Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA), Ezebunwo Ichemati, pledged continued support from his colleagues, pledging to stand solidly behind the Government in its determined effort to make affordable health care accessible to all Rivers people. Ichemati, who is also Rivers State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), expressed happiness that the RSPHCMB was working assiduously to immunise all children. He promised that ALGON would continue to support the Board to deliver on its core mandate.
South-South Zonal Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr Oluwafunmilola Kolude, and UNICEF representative, Dr Anselem Audu, commended the remarkable commitment to health care by the Rivers State Government, promising more partnerships to significantly improve access and coverage of immunisation.
