There’s No Development Without Quality Healthcare, Says Fubara

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has stated that every effort to achieve development in any society will fail if people’s health is not adequately considered.

Fubara stated that his conviction prompted him to intensify efforts to revive the State’s nearly comatose health sector, which lacked effective secondary healthcare facilities.

Governor Fubara made this statement while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by its National President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The Governor also confirmed Prof. Chizindu Dike Alikor’s appointment as the substantive Chief Medical Director of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

Governor Fubara explained in a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary Nelson Chukwudi that providing quality healthcare services and development efforts must be properly integrated to achieve overall goals.

He stated that workers, as well as all citizens, must be healthy to be productive and contribute their fair share to the advancement of governance.

“The Governor and his team cannot succeed without your help. That is the truth, and any government that cares about its citizens must prioritise the delivery of high-quality healthcare.

“Healthcare progresses with development. That is the truth. Your employees must be in good health to be productive. If you put everything in place and are not in good health, your employees will be underproductive.”

Governor Fubara stated that as a people-oriented administration, it was quietly addressing the plethora of issues inherited in the health sector.

He explained that health facilities, particularly those that provide intermediary services, are being rebuilt and strengthened and those zonal hospitals will be revived while personnel are adequately motivated in light of their critical role as government partners.

The Governor stated that his administration was motivating personnel by approving and implementing promotions for health workers, establishing consequential salaries for them, paying hazard allowances, and providing numerous other incentives.

“I do not believe that doing what you are supposed to do deserves to be commended. This is not proper. It is the government’s responsibility to care for its employees, and that is what I have done.

“I will put it this way: I would like to thank the NMA – both the national and state chapters – for your support and patience. I know it was not easy; it is never been easy for them, and even with everything we have done, it is not enough. We should do more.

“I want to thank you for your support, and we will continue to do our best to ensure that the relationship between us does not deteriorate,” the Governor said.

In a speech, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), stated that he led the delegation in thanking Governor Fubara for his efforts to improve the lives of medical personnel in Rivers State.

Dr Ojinmah stated that he was in Port Harcourt two years ago to beg the government to promote medical workers, increase their salaries, pay them hazard allowances, and provide other incentives, but was ignored.

He noted that Governor Fubara had responded to those concerns without prompting, including hiring more personnel and saving the NMA Secretariat from collapse.

Also speaking, Dr Ebi Robinson, State Chairman of the NMA, stated that they wrote to their national body to inform them of the benefits they have begun to enjoy under Governor Fubara’s leadership.

Dr Robinson listed promotions for personnel who had been stagnant for ten years, salary increases, a gift of a utility bus to the association, appointments of their members to several boards, and pledged the association’s continued support to the government.

He stated that the implementation of these welfare packages has inspired medical doctors and workers to do their best to improve healthcare service delivery for the benefit of Rivers residents.