GOVERNOR WIKE TO SIGN THE CONTRIBUTORY HEALTHCARE PROGRAMME BILL INTO LAW.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Contributory Health Care Programme Bill would be signed into law soon to enhance the healthcare delivery system in the state.

Governor Wike made the declaration when the World Health Organization Country Representative for Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, and directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure that the bill was ready for signing this week.

Noting that health is one of the key priorities of his administration, the Governor lauded WHO for the partnership with the State Ministry of Health which had resulted in the reduction  of Malaria, HIV rate as well as given Nigeria a clean bill of health on Polio.

He restated his administration’s commitment to ensure that Rivers people were protected from the COVID-19 pandemic which affected all levels of government economically.

The Governor explained that Rivers State ranked third in terms of testing for COVID-19, emphasizing that the vaccination is given the desired attention it deserves to ensure that every citizen of the state is vaccinated.

Governor Wike also explained that his administration was working out modalities for the employment of more health workers, saying it is for this reason that the government awarded scholarship for Rivers indigenes to study medicine and its related courses at PAMO University with a view to ensuring an increase in the number of health workers in the state as well as boost healthcare delivery in the state.

Earlier, the World Health Organization Country Representative for Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi noted the support of the state government to WHO and its efforts towards the eradication of Polio, combating COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the vaccination programme in the state.

Dr. Kazadi also lauded the Governor for his efforts in improving the healthcare system in the state but, urged him to support the emergency operating centre for the COVID-19 in order to avert the third wave of the pandemic as well as sign the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme into law to improve the health indices of the people in the state.                       

He assured him of WHO commitment to strengthen its partnership with the state government to improve the health of the people of the state.