Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that he will intensify the development of the health sector during his second term.
Governor Wike also stated that 40 percent of the 7000 civil servants to be employed by his administration will be allocated to the health sector.
Speaking during an interactive session with the health sector on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said several key infrastructural facilities have been developed in the course of his first term.
“Our first term has been used to revive the health sector. Several key projects sited in different parts of the state have given the sector a new lease of life . We met a decayed health sector, but today the health sector is functional.
“We have reconstructed 13 General Hospitals in the state. And we are constructing Zonal Tertiary Hospitals in different parts of the state. These health facilities have reshaped the sector”, he said.
He added that the administration will also invest in the training and retraining of Medical Professionals during his second term.
“We will focus on manpower development in the state’s health sector. The training and retraining of health professionals will receive very important attention “, he said.
The governor stated that his administration will complete and commission the ultra modern Mother and Child Hospital in the next three months. He said that the equipment of the hospital are on ground.
He said that his administration initiated and built the College of Medical Sciences at the Rivers State University, while the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital has been established.
“About $16million dollars have been expended to acquire equipment for the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. The hospital has been positioned to serve Rivers people and meet their health challenges “, he said.
The governor urged the medical professionals to stand firm and vote for the PDP to start the recovery of the country at the national level.
Governor Wike said the revolving loan scheme for private medical practitioners has run into a hitch because the doctors refused to pay back the loans.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Social Works, Mrs Inime Aguma said that Governor Wike has fulfilled his key promises in the health sector and should be given the opportunity to consolidate .
Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State, Dr O. Adebiyi thanked Governor Wike for the investments in the health sector. She assured the governor of the doctors support for his re-election.
Rivers State Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nurse Regina Kuru said that steps taken by Governor Wike to improve the health sector will be rewarded by total support from the nurses.
Chairman of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Dr Mrs George Opuda commended the governor for his commitment to healthcare delivery.
