The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh has extolled the performance of the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Agiriye Monima Harry, describing his 100 days achievements in office as “magnificent.”
Dr. Oreh made the commendation, Wednesday, during the commissioning ceremony of the Usokun Health Centre, which was reconfigured, completed, furnished and fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities by the Dr. Harry’s administration.
While extolling the Council Chairman for paying attention to the health needs of his people, Dr. Oreh, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, assured that the Health Ministry would collaborate with the Council to ensure its functionality through staffing, programmes and initiatives for the good of the Usokun community and the general public.
“The Honourable Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, has deemed it fit within his first 100 days in office to put together this well-meaning, state-of-the-art primary healthcare facility in Usokun community in DELGA.
“And it is not just any primary healthcare facility; it is a facility that is well equipped, as ably described by the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr. Lolia Koko, to cater to the needs of our women, children, men and the elderly, and help to reduce ill health and improve their well-being in the community, alleviating the stress that the community has been encountering to access quality healthcare.
“We at the Rivers State Ministry through the Primary Healthcare Management Board are pleased to be a part of this commissioning ceremony, because we will be lending our full support towards ensuring the functionality through staffing, programmes and initiatives within this primary health facility for the good of the people of Usokun and the good of the people of DELGA, and ultimately for the good of the people of Rivers State,” Dr. Oreh stated.
On the request by the Council Chairman for boat ambulances in far-to-reach oceania communities, the Health Commissioner assured that the ministry would make a special case for the riverine communities to benefit from the ongoing health reforms and interventions by the people-oriented governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“On your request for boat ambulances, last year His Excellency graciously approved the reactivation of emergency medical services within Rivers State, and that was flagged off with road ambulances. But if we are speaking about health for all in Rivers State, we know that we have a lot of people in the riverine communities and road ambulances are not sufficient to convey people in emergency need, if they are located in riverine communities.
“Therefore, we will also be making a case so that before the end of the year, boat ambulances would be provided by the Rivers State Government,” she added.
The Commissioner for Health, while commending the Council Chairman, whom she described as her boss at the time she started her medical practice, encouraged him to do more for the people of DELGA.
Earlier in his address, the Council Chairman, Hon. Dr. Agiriye Monima Harry, who described himself as the governor’s experiment in the LGA, commended him for his goodwill towards the people of Degema LGA and Kalabari at large.
The Council Chairman, who lamented the skewed policy of the federal government against smaller communities in the health sector, sought the assistance of the State Government to upgrade healthcare facilities in the area to the level of the Usokun Health Centre executed by his administration, in order to attract more external funding.
He equally made an appeal for the provision of boat ambulances to riverine communities of the LGA, disclosing that his administration had procured some keke ambulances for the Bakana primary health centre due to its distance from the community.
Making the project description, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in DELGA, Dr. Mrs. Lolia Koko, stated that the Usokun Health Centre is well equipped with 3-bedroom staff quarters, 2 fully equipped doctors consulting rooms, a dedicated matron office, a fully equipped laboratory, pharmacy, antenatal and delivery rooms, 20-bed male and female wards, patient record unit, observation room, general staff and administrative offices, a standby power generating set, and a security outfit amongst others.
In his goodwill message, the Onu-Onyan-Ekein of Usokun, HRH Charles Sunday, Ugu VII, commended the Council Chairman for keeping to his promise by upgrading the health facility to meet their health needs, adding that he has engraved his name in the hearts of the Usokun people.
The traditional ruler, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Omubo Bob Jeck, while praying for the success of the administration, added that the Council Chairman had proven himself worthy to be entrusted with higher responsibilities.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh and her entourage from the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Prof. Kinikanwo Green, Directors from the Primary Healthcare Management Board, the leadership and members of the Simplified Movement in DELGA, led by its Chairman, who doubled as the Guest of Honour, and performed the commissioning of the facility, Chief Damiete Herbert Miller, the leadership and members of the 10th Degema Legislative Assembly, top functionaries and appointees of the Council, traditional rulers, community members, amongst others.
Gloria Boma Harry
CPS, DELGA
19th February, 2025
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow Africa Update Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!