Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, has said that his administration achieved a lot in the health sector in the past two and half years, especially with employment of over 2,000 health workers.
Fubara made the remark in a statement issued by Mr Onwuka Nzeshi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
He explained that the employment of the health workers was to strengthen manpower and improve efficiency in the sector.
He highlighted other key achievements which included the revamping of health facilities and establishment of the state health insurance scheme, and added that some abandoned health facilities were revived and expanded
Fubara said that the zonal hospitals in Bori, Omoku, Ahoada and Degema were among those that were revamped, explaining that the 105-bed Ahoada Zonal Hospital, (Secondary healthcare centre) provides health care to people within its catchment area.
Fubara said the state government also prioritised Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state to ensure that the residents, particularly those in rural communities, had access to quality healthcare services.
He noted that the administration approved the remodelling of 153 primary healthcare centres across the state to enhance their functionality.
“As an administration, we are very passionate about the health of every citizen and resident of Rivers state.
“When we realised that many people have been under stress as a result of economic hardship, we decided to introduce mental health services at the primary healthcare level.
“We are not just catering for those down with common diseases such as malaria; we want to ensure that our people get the right attention to their mental health at the right time,” he said.
The governor said that his administration had revamped the Intensive Care Unit of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and equipped it with modern facilities, including monitors, ventilators and scanners.
He described the interventions as massive and unprecedented.
Fubara said he had improved the welfare of the health officers, and had also approved the promotion of over 400 staff of the teaching hospital and recruited an additional 500 personnel to boost service delivery.
The governor mentioned that the student scholarships for indigenes of the state, studying at the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, had been increased from 100 to 150.
Fubara reiterated his administration’s commitment to improve healthcare services and ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for residents of the state.
