Bayelsa State has secured a major international victory in the health sector, emerging as the first runner-up in the South-South region for the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge.
The prestigious award comes with a cash prize of $400,000, approximately ₦600 million, recognised for the state’s significant strides in improving grassroots healthcare delivery.
The challenge is a high-stakes initiative organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and UNICEF, with primary funding from the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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The announcement was made during the 178th State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Wednesday, where the Commissioner for Health, Seiyefa Brisibe, presented the award plaque and dummy cheque to Governor Douye Diri.
During the council meeting, Diri dedicated the achievement to his late Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who passed away recently.
The governor lauded the late deputy for his “effective and tireless supervision” of the Ministry of Health, noting that his leadership was instrumental in Bayelsa’s rise to the top of the regional health rankings.
Diri also received a Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) for his administration’s consistent support for healthcare professionals.
Diri assured Bayelsans that the $400,000 prize money would not be diverted to general administration but would be strictly “ploughed back” into the primary healthcare sector.
The planned focus areas for the funds include upgrading facilities by modernising primary healthcare centres across the eight local government areas.
The funds will also be used to procure essential medical equipment and supplies for rural clinics.
In addition, the initiative aims to improve staff welfare by enhancing the working environment for frontline nurses and midwives.
“This is a testament to what we can achieve when we prioritise the lives of our people,” the governor stated. “We will put this money back into primary health to ensure that even the most remote communities feel the impact of this victory.”
Following the presentation, and in light of the sudden loss of the Deputy Governor, Diri issued a mandatory directive to all members of the State Executive Council.
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He ordered the Health Commissioner to ensure that every cabinet member undergoes a comprehensive medical check-up immediately.
The governor emphasised that the hectic nature of public service requires proactive health management to prevent “avoidable deaths.”
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