By Tina Chinyere – Portharcourt
The Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, has commended the Rivers State Government for its commitment to delivering quality healthcare services at the primary level across the state.
Hon. Magaji gave the commendation in Port Harcourt on Friday during an oversight visit by the committee to assess healthcare facilities in the state.
He described the presence of dedicated medical doctors at the state’s primary healthcare centres as impressive, especially given the shortage of health workers nationwide.
“The purpose of instituting primary healthcare is to bring medical services closer to the people. I encourage residents to utilize the facilities in their communities because if you don’t visit them, then the purpose is defeated,” he said.
The lawmaker explained that the visit was part of efforts to fast-track the committee’s oversight functions and to make informed recommendations for inclusion in the national budget. According to him, the committee intends to ensure that provisions are made for immunization and that funds allocated for healthcare are effectively utilized.
“The visit also aims to verify whether funds allocated to states are used to maintain healthcare facilities and whether states are meeting their obligations under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in a timely manner,” Magaji added.
In her remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Professor Justina Jumbo, described the oversight visit as a critical step toward strengthening accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery in the state’s health sector.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the optimal use of all health-related funds, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), to expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“Our collective goal aligns with the Federal Government’s vision and the committee’s mandate to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Nigeria,” Dr. Oreh stated.
