The Rivers State Government has been commended for winning the 2014 edition of the highest honour for unparalleled excellence in healthcare delivery in the country, ‘the Outstanding Government Healthcare Programme Excellence Award’.

“This feat, achieved over the weekend during the award ceremony held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, has erased any doubt which might have been harboured by anyone about the commitment of the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration to the health and wellbeing of all citizens of Rivers State,” the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

The statement signed by the State Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described Governor Amaechi as “a visionary with an uncommon passion for the welfare of the downtrodden,” adding: “This is evident in the zeal with which his administration, from its inception almost seven years ago pursued primary healthcare delivery, making huge investments in the sector and rebuilding the health system from the foundation stage.”

Rivers APC described the honour as well deserved, saying: “It is indeed remarkable that the Amaechi administration has, without much ado, built, staffed and equipped over 120 primary health centres across the state. It has in addition ensured that each primary healthcare centre in the state is headed by a medical doctor who lives in the premises to attend to patients round the clock. As a result of this, Rivers State has achieved 100 percent routine immunization by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) assessment in the year 2013.”

The party said that “apart from the above, the government of Rivers State under the watch of Governor Amaechi has achieved the following:

“Three new Secondary/Tertiary Health Care centres were built and being managed on PPP basis: 1. New Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital. 2. 120 bed Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital. 3. 120 bed hospital within the Rivers State UST campus.

“The Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMH) is constantly upgraded in the areas of infrastructure and equipment.

“To ensure that Rivers State is the best in health delivery in Africa, the government of Rivers State is not contented with the above feats but is currently executing the following projects: 1. New College of Nursing and Midwifery 2. Orthopaedic Hospital at the old UPTH site 3. Cardiovascular Hospital at the old UPTH site. 4. Mother and Child Hospital at the Air force Base.

“A Pan African Health Foundation (PAHF) Auto Disable Syringe Factory that produces 160 million syringes per annum was completed and commissioned in October, 2008.”

APS further said: “Governor Amaechi does not only improve on the infrastructure of the health sector but also the human capital. In this regard, recruitment and training/retraining of Human Resource for Health have been ongoing. So far, 460 doctors, 300 nurses, 20 pharmacists, 40 record officers, 20 catering officers, 20 cooks and 20 drivers have been recruited to boost the workforce in the service. Another 218 other staff were recruited into the State Emergency Medical Services.

“The following under listed programmes are fully functional – 1. Free Medical Care Programme. 2. Emergency Medical Service. 3. Malaria Control Programme. 4. HIV/AIDS Control Programme. 5. Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme. 6. National Programme of Immunization.

“With all these feats one is not in doubt that Rivers State is the best in Nigeria in health delivery, in this regard.”

Dr Ikanya praised the Amaechi administration for focusing on things that will touch the lives of the common man and appealed to “the good people of Rivers State to reciprocate this gesture by always supporting His Excellency and voting for APC candidates in future elections in the state.”

The party also congratulated and commended Dr. Sampson Parker, the Rivers State Commissioner of Health, “who has religiously implemented the vision and mission of Governor Amaechi on health care delivery to the letter.”

•Photo shows Rivers State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sampson Parker.

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