The State government has reiterated its determination to develop a health system that will meet the health needs of all residents in the state.
Rivers state Health commissioner, Dr. Sampson Parker, stated this at a one-day stakeholder’s review meeting of the Free Medical Care Programme inPort Harcourt.
Dr. Parker said the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, declared a Universal Free Medical Care programme for all residents of the state on 1St October, 2010, but said beneficiaries must register in order to access the services.
He said although the free medical care programme is free to the beneficiaries, it is not free because government pays the bills, stating that it behooves on the people to cultivate healthy habits like keeping their surroundings clean and going for regular medical checkups to nip any ailment in the bud before it gets serious.
He said failure on the part of the people to take responsibility for their health by doing the right things will increase the burden of the free medical care programme and informed service providers that the Amaechi,’s system is geared towards meeting the people in their bedrooms and work place as a kind of healthcare evangelism.
“This is not about health centres. It is about meeting the people and giving them health education before they get to the health centre”, he said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Free Medical Care Programme, Dr. Stella Toby, said all intending beneficiaries are to provide two passport photographs, provide a utility bill to prove that you are resident in the state, show evidence of tax payment or capitation rate, or social service levy and voters card. ###
Owupele Benebo
