Education/Health Sectors: Rivers Governor pledges better service delivery
Eme Offiong, Calabar
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has vowed to overhaul the education and health sectors for better service delivery.
He made the pledge when a delegation led by the Vice President-General of the Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Nasir Awhelebe Uhor paid a visit on him in government house, Port Harcourt City.
Fubara, who lamented the lack of adequate and qualified primary school teachers, described the dilapidated classrooms across the state as troubling.
He admitted that the condition of the schools and lack of 75 percent of primary school teachers came to his notice recently when a firm known as New Global undertook a field assessment in pursuance of a partnership training project with the Rivers State Government.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State governor, Mr. Nelson Chukwudi, the governor said that the partnership was for the firm to train a particular number of primary school teachers as part of efforts to revamp the education sector.
He stated, “it will surprise you to note that an agency came to Rivers State. It is called ‘New Global’ and were willing to spend $5 Million to train our teachers, to provide softwares and other things to improve the learning process at the primary school level.
“I told them to go round and assess the primary schools in the state. After their assessment, you will not believe it that 75 percent of our primary schools have no teachers. 90 percent of the schools are dilapidated”, he said.
Health sector
On health sector, the Governor also promised to revive the five established zonal hospitals in the state to boost healthcare delivery and enhance accessibility, saying “the only health facilities that are functional are the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) and maybe, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).”
He maintained, “we have already taken it upon ourselves, by the special grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to make sure that we revisit the five zonal hospitals in the state to make sure that they function.
“When they function, they will give support to the primary healthcare centres. A lot of people die because of minor illnesses and unavailability of health centres, not well-equipped with qualified personnel. So, we know it is important,” noted Fubara.
In the agriculture sector, the governor informed the delegation that his administration was poised to rehabilitate some moribund facilities to create employment opportunities and guarantee food security.
Governor Fubara commended the Muslim community for the successful completion of Ramadan and expressed appreciation for the prayers and support to his administration as well as their contributions to the reduction in farmers – herders crisis.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Vice President-General, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Nasir Uhor appreciated Governor Fubara for enabled them to participate in the 2023 Hajj and his inclusive policy, which has given the Muslim community a sense of belonging.
