By: Felix Ikpotor
As the political crisis rocking Rivers State continues to assume dimensions, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh has called on newly recruited health workers to join in moving the state from an era of stagnation to an era prosperity.
The Commissioner gave the charge during an orientation programme for newly recruited 1000 health workers of the Rivers State Hospitals Management Board, RSHMB, held in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who noted that the state is at a very critical time in it’s history were the fight for soul of the state is at the centre, said the government is counting on the newly recruited workers to join in moving the state to an era of dynamic leadership.
She urged the workers to do that through their professionalism and through efficient service delivery.
“We are at a critical time in the life of the state, we are fighting for the soul of Rivers State and we count on you to join us to move from an era of stagnation to an era of dynamic leadership, from an era where leadership is about being on top to an era where leadership is about what matters and what counts to the grassroots.
“I want you to know that your skills, your knowledge is to improve the lots of the common man. People would say, what is my business with Fubara’s government but there are 1000 of you here and that 1000 of you here have people who rely on you and so as we fight for the people of Rivers State, as we fight for progress in Rivers State, congratulations as we welcome you into this army for the soul of our dear state and for progress and development of the people of Rivers State and be rest assured that God is with Rivers State,” she stated.
While acknowledging the importance of the health workers, Oreh pointed out that the vision of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the health sector cannot be fulfilled without their skills and professionalism.
“We cannot do anything without you and that’s the reason why with the approval of the governor we convened this orientation to bring you together, to say to you that there is much hope in what we can contribute to the work that we are doing. His Excellency has a grand vision for what healthcare in Rivers State should look like but that vision cannot be accomplished without the work that you will do,” she added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Medical Director of the Rivers Hospitals Management Board, RSHMB, Dr Bright Ogbondah, appreciated the Rivers State Government for recruiting new workforce for the health sector in the state, noting that for over eight years, there was no employment while health facilities in the state suffered from understaffing.
He expressed the hope that the newly employed workers would boost service delivery in the sector while charging them to maintain best practices in the discharge of their duties.
“For years now we have not had it so good. For over eight years we haven’t had employment in the state ministry of health. Most of our hospitals lack manpower, lack equipments, lack basic necessary infrastructures to operate and take care of patients. But just about a year and a half of the administration of Governor Fubara, he approved the employment of 2000 healthcare personnel (1000 for hospital management board and 1000 for Rivers State University Teaching Hospital). That’s unprecedented. It’s a feat that has never been achieved in the history of Rivers State .
“Again, he also approved the construction, renovation and remodelling of all the zonal hospitals in Rivers State including state-of the art equipments and awarded contracts for procurement of equipments in all several hospitals,” Ogbondah said.
