The establishment of a College of Medical Sciences with a teaching hospital in the Rivers State University (RSU) may perhaps be Governor Nyesom Wike’s biggest legacy.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the resource verification teams of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the Rivers State University College of Medicine and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and School of Nursing at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike assured that his administration would sustain the investments in the health sector for the development of Rivers State.
Then governor, Chibuike Amaechi, had started relocation of the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to Omagwa near the airport and set out some funds for the project. Governor Wike, upon resumption as Amaechi’s successor, cancelled the relocation move and was said to have asked the contractor to use the funds to start the College of Health Science building. He has continued to develop that project steadily thereafter.
Now, he said: “The Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital are part of the legacies that I will leave for the people of Rivers State.
“Health is key and we will sustain the investments in the sector. Rivers State was created in 1967, without a College of Medicine to train qualified medical personnel. We only had the University of Port Harcourt Medical College which is a Federal institution. What we are doing is to ensure that we have a College of Medical Sciences to groom our own medical personnel in the state.”
He assured that his administration would continue to approve the employment of relevant academic and medical staff for the College of Medicine and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
He also announced that the construction of the Department of Clinical Sciences and Clinical Students Hostel would be completed on schedule. He added that all the necessary medical facilities designated to work as part of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital would be upgraded to serve the purpose.
He informed that the Mother and Child Hospital which would come on stream in May 2020 will serve as the support facility for gynaecology and paediatrics of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
Governor Wike announced that his administration would supply all necessary vehicles for the functional operation of the medical school and teaching hospital.
He, however, stated that the state government would construct a new School of Nursing building because of the dilapidated nature of the current school. He said that in the interim, the school would operate from the School of Midwifery.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, a professor, MBT Umar, commended the governor, saying that at a time other states were afraid of setting up medical college, Wike remained committed to the establishment and growth of one.
