The Government of Rivers State of Nigeria has unveiled a Newborn Screening Programme aimed at reducing infant mortality and morbidity, describing the initiative as a decisive step towards improving child health outcomes in the state.
Launching the programme on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Nma Odu, said early screening of newborns would strengthen preventive healthcare and give every child a healthier start to life.
Odu explained that newborn screening is a simple but critical medical intervention that enables the early detection of genetic, metabolic, hormonal and congenital disorders before symptoms manifest.
“This initiative reflects our collective commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, promoting preventive medicine and ensuring that every child born in our facilities is given the healthiest possible start in life,” she said.
The deputy governor noted that the state’s 2025 budgetary allocation to the health sector was substantial, underscoring the administration’s resolve to prioritise healthcare delivery. She added that Governor Siminalayi Fubara considers healthcare a direct investment in the wellbeing of citizens, particularly the vulnerable, as reflected in the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP).
Describing the screening initiative as an investment in the future, Odu commended the management and medical team of the teaching hospital for what she termed a laudable and forward-looking intervention.
Earlier, the Chairman of the hospital’s Management Board, Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker, praised the Chief Medical Director and staff for their dedication, while calling for sustained government support to expand critical health services.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director, Chizindu Alikor, said the wellbeing of newborns remains central to efforts at reducing neonatal and under-five mortality rates.
Alikor disclosed that the hospital had introduced a comprehensive screening package for babies born within the facility and across the state, in line with the administration’s “Health for All Rivers People” agenda.
He expressed confidence that early detection of health conditions through the programme would enable prompt diagnosis and treatment, significantly improving survival rates and long-term health outcomes for children in the state.
