By Emma Obe
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has promised to sign the Contributory Health Insurance Law passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly into law.
The governor, who disclosed this on Monday, when a delegation of the World Health organization paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Port Harcourt, said he was surprised that the Health Contributory Bill had not been brought to him to give his assent. He assured the delegation that he would expedite action on the law.
Wike said the State had achieved enormous success in reducing the rate of malaria infection and HIV/AIDS among the people because of the robust partnership it has with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The governor noted that the issuance of a polio-free status certificate of clearance to Nigeria was made possible because of the partnership with WHO.
“If you did not work hard with us, probably it would not have been possible. Our ideas and your partnership made it very easy for us to get to the level we are.
“The relationship between the State Government and WHO is an interesting and rewarding one. That was why when you asked for accommodation, we did not hesitate in providing you a befitting and furnished office and also to other agencies.
“We believe that partnering with you will go a long way in improving our healthcare system. When medical workers go on strike I asked them to know why the strike and solve the problem.
“I can also tell you of the cooperation and support we get from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). Working together with them, we believe we will continue to correct the challenges.”
He said the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected government operations, saying, “No sane leader will fold his hands, and not to work hard. The COVID-19 has affected every government economically and so things have changed.
“However, we will not relent to see that our people are free from it even though it is not easy. In most rural areas, some people don’t even believe that it exists. It is our responsibility to make sure that we do the right thing.”
He said he was glad that the state had upped its fight against COVID-19 to the extent that the state was now ranked third with regard to testing for the pandemic.
Stressing the premium the state placed on the training of health personnel, Governor Wike disclosed the state g government now awards scholarships every year to at least 100 Rivers students studying medicine and other related courses at PAMO University.
“We are doing everything to improve on the number of health workers that are available at our hospitals.”
WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter M. Kazadi commended Governor Wike for the remarkable leadership he has shown in Rivers State in the area of healthcare.
“We are visiting at a time when we are seeing a sign of hope with COVID-19 vaccination that has started and I will like to congratulate you on the vaccination programme that has started in this State. It really helps us provide some hope.
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“But, I will like to emphasize that we are still vulnerable until everyone is safe; until all the groups that need to get the vaccine to get them, starting with the health worker, the front line workers, the elderly, the people with underlying conditions.
“So, we are still going through this pandemic and we are seeing some countries that thought they were through, only to be surprised by the third wave. So, we really want to come to you to avoid the catastrophe that was predicted for Nigeria that we have avoided so far. And I know Rivers State is the second economy in Nigeria can play a major role in that.”
