As the remarkable good deeds keep pouring in, one cannot but also keep highlighting them for the records.
This perhaps is the perception of the entire members of the Nigeria Medical Association both in South-South and Rivers State when the Executives came calling on His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State to register their profound gratitude for his unfettered attention to the health sector since his assumption of office.
The National President of the Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah was quick to acknowledge that he was indeed surprised and elated at the same time for the uncommon strides of Governor Fubara in the sector within a short period of being in the saddle. In his words, “I am surprised because you have fulfilled majority of the things which I have traveled down here to negotiate on behalf of my people in the past few years without success. So, I am elated that even without my knowing it, I received the report that you have virtually implemented all and even approved more.”
Amongst the lingering request before now that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara urgently implemented include salary increment for doctors in the State Service,payment of reviewed Hazard Allowance to doctors in the State Service, and promotion of doctors in the State Service who were stagnated for over 10 years.
In addition, it has been difficult to run most of the health facilities in the state due to acute manpower shortage. To this effect, without much prompting, Governor Siminalayi Fubara approved the recruitment of 500 Health workers in the Rivers State Hospitals Management
Board and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
The leadership of NMA became more startled by the accomplishments as they also took note of Governor Fubara’s commitment in equipping and commissioning of secondary Healthcare facilities in the State as well asappointing its members into positions of trust (Board Membership, Executive Secretaries
etc.)
What more? They seized the moment to further appreciate the governor for recognizing the activities of the association in bringing about quality assurance in the management of the health sector through his approval and generous donation of a utility Bus to the NMA Rivers State branch, in addition to his numerous financial support in the renovation and equipping of the branch Secretariat.
In fact, the visit of the Association saw the torrential rain of gratitude and a kind of rekindled hope with exhilarating zeal to serve without qualms as they have been adequately motivated by a man who truly understands the purpose of governance.
To further demonstrate the rare qualities he is made of, Governor Siminalayi Fubara still did not see his actions as extraordinary but his genuine responsibility which he swore by oath to render to his people. Instead, he apologized to NMA for the delays and commended them for their patience while the delay occured. He assured them of his continued support as he pleaded for cooperation and synergy to take the health sector to a greater height describing the sector as fundamental to development.
What could be more altruistic than Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s declaration at Ndoni while commissioning the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre donated by PAMO Educational Foundation an initiative of the former governor of the state, Sir Dr Peter Odili and family that he is committed to reviving quality healthcare delivery in the state.
This is not just in rhetoric but in every sense of his actions including taking over the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre and promising to equip it for optimal performance to the benefit of the people. He also added that his administration is poised to reactivate all the zonal hospitals in the state in order to service the people adequately. That apparently is the measure of a leader who has the people at heart.
Indeed, with the passion being displayed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State health sector is truly set for a good time and a great season to be reckoned with as new milestones are being recorded with new horizon.
*Boniface Onyedi is Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State
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