RSG TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOME – Wike

The Rivers State Government says it would leverage on all the sectors available to improve the health outcomes of its People.

The State Chief Executive, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated this in Port Harcourt during the opening Ceremony of the 59^thAnnual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State, on Tuesday 5^thAugust 2019.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo (Right) being welcomed by the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) R/S, Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi to the 59^th Annual General Meeting & Scientific Conference at the NMA House, East-West Road, Port Harcourt on the 6^th August 2019.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said studies have shown clearly that social factors such as life style, education, housing, agriculture and the environment has a lot of interplay and determines not only the health outcome but even the way we spend on health.

“If you look at some of these high cost burden diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer giving the way non- communicable diseases are increasing in prevalence and knowing the level of mortality and morbidity, obviously there are social factors that we must interplay with to reduce the prevalence, high cost expenditure on it and generally improve on our health outcome for us in Rivers State health is key”. He further stressed.

Governor Wike who disclosed that he is very passionate about health and education said in the last few years his administration invested a lot on infrastructural development, stressing that plans are on the way to equip the already completed Bori and Degema, Zonal Hospitals in addition to three completed General Hospitals, while noting that ten other General Hospitals have reached advance stages of completion across the State.

The State Chief Executive expressed gratitude to the NDDC for collaborating with the NMA in carrying out outreach programmes for people living with disabilities as well as the promise to set up an Oncology Chair in the State University Teaching Hospital.     

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo (Middle) with the Acting Managing Director, NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa (Right) and the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) R/S, Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi (Left) conferring during the 59^th Annual General Meeting & Scientific Conference at the NMA House, East-West Road, Port Harcourt on the 6^th August 2019.

In his remarks the Chairman of the Occasion Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, who is also the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said the NDDC is an Agency set up to intervene in the Niger Delta in order to improve the living conditions of the People expressed the desire to set up an Oncology  Chair in the State University Teaching Hospital, stressing that NDDC is sparing no efforts to ensure that the people enjoy good health infrastructure and access quality health care delivery.

Earlier the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi said the leading causes of death in the world today are non- communicable diseases of long duration and generally slow progression, noting that managing these conditions requires behaviour. change and adoption of a healthy life style.

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