The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its firm dedication to improving the state’s healthcare infrastructure through the implementation of robust policies, strategic financial commitments, and a patient-centric approach.
This commitment was announced by the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu yesterday while she spoke as a Special Guest at the 2025 Physicians’ Week organised by the Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at the NMA House in Port Harcourt.
Odu emphasised the necessity of viewing healthcare not as a solitary service but as a comprehensive “value chain” that encompasses elements of governance, physical infrastructure, technology, ethical standards, and, crucially, human capital, particularly in the face of rapid global change.
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She commended the NMA for selecting the theme “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient,” noting that it directly addresses the urgent need for a more integrated and responsive health system.
This system, she added, must seamlessly link policy vision with practical execution, keeping the patient’s well-being central to every decision.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Occasion, Tamunoiyoriari Parker, who also chairs the state University Management Board, stressed that even the best-conceived health policies are destined to fail if the implementing physicians are overworked, underpaid, or lack motivation.
He insisted that sustained healthcare delivery cannot be maintained on “exhausted shoulders.”
In his address, the Chairman of the state NMA, Tamunokuro Ezekiel, expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for approving the payment of outstanding salaries owed to recently employed doctors under the state Hospital Management Board.
He also praised the current administration for its extensive infrastructural investments across the health sector.
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Ezekiel highlighted the association’s significant contribution to public health, disclosing that the NMA has provided free medical services to over 100,000 residents across eight Local Government Areas of the state in the last twelve months.
Furthermore, he noted the success of the association’s anti-quackery campaign, which has led to the closure of multiple substandard health facilities operating below the required standards within the state.
