By
Inyie Okpukpo
In view of the pandemic presently ravaging the world, our country and now in our dear State, the focus of this short piece will be on the health sector and the need for the governor to do the needful with urgency.
The emergence of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as governor in 2007 saw a positive twist in governance in Rivers State. The 23 LGAs of the state felt governance in its full capacity. All the Ministries under the then government were fully activated to their responsibilities. Governance got to every nook and cranny of the State. Nothing served as a fitting testimony to the state of things then than the swiftness in which an invading Ebola was stopped, fought and extinguished in the State led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The administration of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, having observed the rate of deaths during child birth and the inability or difficulty in getting proper medical care in the rural areas, deemed it necessary to bring such care to the door-steps of pregnant and nursing mothers in the state. He built modern health centres in the 23 LGAs of the State. It must be mentioned that the then governor putsued well-researched policy programmes based on the UN Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health.
Don't get it twisted! Some of these health-care facilities were either completed or near completion with state-of-the-art pieces of furniture by the time Amaechi ended his tenure. The gesture did not go without accolades from all and sundry. Consequent upon the zeal with which that administration strived to change the face of governance, spending Rivers money for Rivers people and providing her with basic infrastructure to meet their daily needs, the State under the leadership of Amaechi as governor, won several awards, locally and internationally.
In 2015, there was a change of baton; a new era berthed with a new sheriff on the saddle. Fast-forward, six years later, what can be said of these facilities?
While some residents decry the abandonment of these facilities, others simply politicise it, just to score cheap political points.
The evil day is here.
In the wake of the COVID-19 ravaging nations of the world, one will think that back here in Rivers State, these facilities in the various LGAs could be put to use in full capacity. Rather than do that, Governor Wike prefers playing to the gallery. The governor is taking the easy road (as always), announcing lockdowns and bans which are preventive steps. But what plans has he in terms of containment? The answer is ZERO. No respirators, no ventilators, no isolation centres and no testing capacity.
As we speak, there is no proper isolation centre in the State. While neighbouring states are putting every effort in place to fight the virus by converting government buildings (office, stadiums, etc.) as isolation centres. Yet the government of Rivers State cannot take advantage of health facilities already built by the Amaechi administration to fight this scourge in our land.
We, want to seize this opportunity to call on the Rivers State Government to stop playing to the gallery and set the ball rolling. COVID-19 is not a respecter of persons, rather does it know a ruling party or opposition.
We therefore enjoin Gov. Wike to emulate his colleagues across the country. He should find out what they are doing to achieve the success we are seeing in their various states in fighting this pandemic. It is no rocket science that when you plan and take preventive steps, you must plan and acquire containment capacity with even greater vigour.
Enough of the drama!
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