Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has flagged-off free medical outreach as part of activities to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Prosperity Administration at Ikarama Cottage Hospital in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Speaking at the flag-off Governor Douye Diri described health as wealth and noted that the facility built by Agip since 1995 and WAS completed in 1998 unfortunately has not been put to use.
Governor Diri said inline with the ASSURED Prosperity Agenda, the state government will take over the hospital for use to cater for the healthcare needs of the people in the area and neighbouring communities stretching to Rivers State now that a doctor has been posted to man the facility.
He advised the people to protect the facility and cooperate with the health workers to serve the community better.
Governor Diri enjoined the Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe to look into the request of the Paramount Ruler of Ikarama and forward it to him for approval.
He thanked the chiefs, elders, leaders, youths for the warm reception accorded his entourage.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe stated that the medical outreach will provide perfect opportunity to operationalize the facility fully adding that the Ministry of Health has posted staff to Ikarama Cottage Hospital to cater for the healthcare needs of the people in Okodia- Zarama, Calabar, Ayamabelar and other communities in Rivers State.
He said the key focus of the programme is to provide medical intervention for indigent patients saying that two minor surgeries were conducted in the facility during the course of the outreach adding that major surgeries will be referred to designated centres in Otuasega, Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital, General Hospital Sagbama, Nembe Cottage Hospital to ensure that no one is left out due to financial constraints.
Other services provided include free treated mosquito nets, immunization, free drugs, food supplements and other consumables among others.
The Health Commissioner emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right which the state government is demonstrating through the outreach to built a resilient and inclusive healthcare system for the people.
In his goodwill message, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Marcus Oluwadare, thanked Governor Diri for the support to health partners, saying that the state witnessed five health outbreaks in 2024, but they were successfully tackled as a result of the support of the governor.
He equally revealed that cases of cholera outbreak in some communities were also swiftly responded to by the government when the state was alerted and that the situation had been brought under control.
Also speaking the Paramount Ruler of Ikarama, His Highness Wariebi Jonah said it was during the tenure of H.H Chief Guine Okah in 1986 – 1995, that the idea of building a Health Centre was conceived by the community and H.H Chief Guine Okah, donated the present land to actualize the project which started during the tenure of the H.H. Chief Richard Seiba from 1995 – 1998, who is currently the King of
the entire Okordia Clan.
He appealed to Governor Douye Diri to renovate structure, provide and equip the hospital with modern health facilities, build three-self contain within the hospital premises to accommodate
more staff.
Others include, provision of one bus and Ambulance for effective mobility/emergency
cases, employment of indigenes, qualified health/medical related graduates from the community.
The event was attended among others by the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, member representing Sagbama Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, top government functionaries and traditional rulers.
