Fubara promises to prioritise health sector in 2025 budget

…Expresses delight with Primary Healthcare

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State announced his administration’s commitment to significantly increase healthcare funding in the 2025 budget to provide essential financial backing for the sector’s operations.

Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a meeting with a delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO), Governor Fubara emphasized the need for a robust healthcare system for the people of Rivers State, criticizing the state of inherited health facilities as disheartening.

He expressed satisfaction with the improvements seen in the primary healthcare system under his administration, highlighting healthcare, education, and agriculture as the focal points of the upcoming budget. Governor Fubara assured that a substantial portion of the budget would address healthcare challenges, aiming for notable progress by the next WHO assessment.

He acknowledged the importance of revitalizing the healthcare sector, citing ongoing efforts such as the health insurance program and improved management of primary healthcare resources since assuming office. The Governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to timely resource allocation to support healthcare operations effectively.

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.”

Kazadi Walter Molumbo, the WHO Country Representative, commended Governor Fubara for his dedication to enhancing healthcare interventions aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring improved health and well-being for the populace by 2030.