● Tonye Okurumo
Abuja, Nigeria – For the second consecutive year, Rivers State has been crowned the Best Performing State in the South-South Region in the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Leadership Challenge, securing the title of South-South Champion and National runner-up. The announcement was made during an event organized by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday night, with the support of UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, December 14, by the Media Team of the Rivers State Ministry of Health in Port Harcourt.
At the awards and gala night held at the State House Banquet Hall, Rivers State received a $500,000 prize for its exceptional performance as the best in the South-South region and second-best nationally. The award reflects the consistent efforts of the health teams in Rivers State, overcoming significant challenges to achieve outstanding results. Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, led the state delegation to receive the honor. She lauded the organizers, including the Independent Verification Teams and Independent Judging Panel, for their objective evaluation of Rivers State’s performance.
The PHC Leadership Challenge is a flagship initiative of the NGF, aimed at revitalizing primary healthcare in Nigeria by fostering stronger sub-national leadership. It builds on the Seattle Declaration, which calls for a robust commitment to the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy. The program encourages governors to increase PHC funding progressively, improve infrastructure in healthcare centers, and enhance human resource capacity across the country.
Speaking on the achievement, Governor Siminalayi Fubara emphasized the importance of the recognition in strengthening Rivers State’s healthcare strategy. “This award and national recognition will undoubtedly enable us to double down on existing efforts to strengthen the quality and expand the reach of primary healthcare in Rivers State in alignment with our #Health4AllRivers Strategy towards Universal Health Coverage,” he said. He recalled signing the Presidential Compact for Nigeria’s health sector renewal a year ago, affirming the state’s commitment to quality healthcare services for its citizens.
“This award underscores our dedication to the Presidential Compact and highlights our unwavering focus on improving the health of not only the people of Rivers State but the entire nation,” Governor Fubara added, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to deliver sustainable healthcare solutions.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, praised Governor Fubara for his unwavering support and leadership. “With the people-centered policy focus of this administration, we are transforming the health sector in Rivers State to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare services to all strata of society in the shortest possible time,” she stated. Dr. Oreh also expressed confidence that the governor’s enabling environment would further drive progress in the sector.
The $500,000 award signifies not only a reward for past achievements but also a call to action for continued excellence. The Rivers State government, through its Health4All initiative, aims to make primary healthcare a model for national replication, ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing quality healthcare. GMTNewsng
Follow GMTNewsng on our WhatsApp channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VarY28K1iUxbytaMSE3q
