The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, has hailed the inauguration of a pioneering Newborn Screening Programme at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) as a transformative milestone in the state’s quest to enhance child health outcomes and reduce neonatal mortality.
Speaking yesterday at the official launch in Port Harcourt, Professor Odu described the initiative as a sophisticated yet essential medical intervention. The programme is designed to facilitate the early detection of genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and congenital disorders frequently before clinical symptoms become manifest.
The Deputy Governor emphasised that the early identification of such conditions allows for immediate medical intervention, which significantly bolsters survival rates and ensures long-term wellbeing.
“This initiative reflects our collective commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, promoting preventive medicine, and ensuring that every child born in our facilities is afforded the healthiest possible commencement to life,” Professor Odu remarked.
She further underscored that the programme is not merely a clinical service but a “strategic investment” in the future of Rivers State, providing enduring benefits for families and the wider society.
Professor Odu highlighted the substantial budgetary allocations directed toward the health sector in 2025 by the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. She noted that the Governor views healthcare as a fundamental pillar of social development, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. This commitment is further evidenced by the administration’s robust support for the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP).
The Chairman of the RSUTH Management Board, Dr Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker, commended the hospital’s leadership for their dedication to advancing medical services, while calling for sustained governmental support to further fortify service delivery.
Echoing these sentiments, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, asserted that safeguarding the health of newborns is central to the state’s “Health for All Rivers People” agenda. He explained that the hospital has introduced a comprehensive neonatal screening package accessible to infants born both at the teaching hospital and across the wider state.
Professor Alikor concluded by stating that timely diagnosis remains the most effective tool in improving the quality of life for the next generation, ensuring that medical conditions are managed effectively from the very outset of life.
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