Fubara Promises To Prioritize Health Sector In 2025 Budget
From MAUREEN DICK, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said his administration will commit huge budgetary allocation to healthcare in the 2025 budget, to give necessary financial support to drive the activities in the sector.
Governor Fubara stated this when he received a delegation of the World Health Organization (WHO), at Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said Rivers people deserve a functional healthcare system unlike what he described as “the disheartening state of health facilities” his administration inherited.
The governor said he was impressed with the State of the primary healthcare system, noting that there is a tremendous improvement compared to before.
He said: “As a matter of fact, in our 2025 budget, we have just three key areas; healthcare, education and agriculture. they are our key areas in our 2025 budget.
“And we believe that when we roll out that budget, greater part of the health issues will be accommodated and I believe that by the time you visit us, may be in another one year, the commendation will be there.”
According to him, “When we came onboard, we also knew that one very good important area that we need to touch is the healthcare. Development cannot be complete if the health sector is abandoned.
“So, we need all the good in our power to make sure that we revitalize that area and some of the achievements you just mentioned – the health insurance that has been there for long before now.
“We might not have concluded it completely. But, the most important thing is that we have started. It’s no longer they have not started. Rivers State has keyed into it.
“The very active state of our primary healthcare you also mentioned! when we came onboard, whatever it is that is required, their resources, we don’t even tamper with it. We ensure they get their resources on good time, so that the aspect of their control and administrative duties are discharge.
“And you can also record from what was said earlier that the healthcare sector ( the primary healthcare in particular), as improved compared to what it were before when we came on board.”
Earlier in his speech, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Kazadi Walter Molumbo, commended Governor Fubara for his efforts towards the various healthcare interventions in a bid to achieve the target for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure that the people enjoy good health and well-being by 2030.