Governor Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed his administration’s plan to make the state first choice medical tourism destination in Nigeria, and indeed, Africa.
The governor explained that to achieve this, his administration was seriously paying greater attention to improving healthcare infrastructure and services available to the people, particularly at the primary level to bridge observed gaps between the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services in the state.
Should he achieve this, he would be boosting the rising profile of Port Harcourt in the medical tourism sub-sector.
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Even now, and more in the future, anybody with certain ailments above normal handling may head to Port Harcourt. The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) is still the centre of medical excellence with some of the best professors of medicine in the south-south.
The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) is reputed to have some of the best surgeons in gynaecology while also taking stock of a diagnostic machine that is making vibes in the medical world.
The military hospital on Aba Road is still preferred by most persons and those in the military.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to execute a regional medical centre focusing on cardio-vascular and orthopaedic treatment that would reduce foreign medical trips.
The main focus now is how to stop capital flight by providing some of the medical services in Nigeria and now PH. The Princess (Signature) Hospital in Trans-Amadi seems to lead in this by getting some of the globally certified equipment and personnel connected to some foreign partners to handle complicated cases. The new medical centre has funding support from SPDC and the CBN. The objective is said to be to pursue the war against capital flight.
There is also Save A Life Hospital in PH which is said to have an array of world class equipment to treat what many go abroad for. There is talk about laparoscopy and other advanced procedures.
Now, the Rivers State government is stepping in to be intentional in upgrading PH as a medical tourism hub.
Fubara emphasised that the ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrade of all primary healthcare facilities across the State, with a view to integrating them with existing secondary and tertiary institutions, was intended to deliver immediate but quality healthcare services to majority of the people.
The Governor made this known while speaking to newsmen in Government House, Port Harcourt on the modest achievements of his administration in the health sector since assumption of office.
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He stated that, besides the construction, renovation and upgrade of primary healthcare centres across the State, the capacity of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) has been improved with the training of personnel, and establishment of critical units, equipped with modern equipment to deliver sterling expertise services to patients.
He also identified some challenges that have frustrated smooth delivery of healthcare services in the State, and promised to tackle them.
“With all these on ground, it is evident that the primary challenges in our healthcare system are more with inadequate manpower, corruption, indiscipline, and ineffective management.
“We will deal with all identified challenges and ensure that the healthcare system functions optimally to deliver affordable and efficient services to all citizens of the State,” he said.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Oreh, said that under the leadership of Fubara, the state has experienced formidable strides in building a rigorous and robust primary healthcare system.
