The Rivers State Government is to commence the enrolment of vulnerable persons affected by flooding into the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), as part of measures to cushion the health and economic consequences of the disaster.
The intervention, announced by the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee,
Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, is targeted particularly at elderly persons, children and pregnant women among flood victims, who will be identified and enrolled to access free medical treatment at designated health centres across the state.
Odu disclosed this yesterday while presenting relief materials to flood-affected residents in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
She said the state government was collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and RIVCHPP to provide both immediate relief and healthcare support to residents affected by the floods.
According to her, the health intervention was designed to ensure that the medical needs of flood victims were not overlooked amid the destruction of homes, loss of property and disruption of livelihoods caused by the flooding.
“The health needs of persons affected by flooding must also be addressed,” the deputy governor said, explaining that vulnerable victims would be properly identified and enrolled in the state’s health protection programme.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, said flooding often resulted in the loss of infrastructure and livelihoods, while exposing affected communities to serious health challenges.
Agala assured that RIVCHPP would enrol flood victims into the scheme to enable them access quality healthcare services free of charge.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Innocent Worgu Wachukwu, said the government was concerned about the health condition of residents displaced or otherwise affected by the floods, assuring that they would have access to RIVCHPP services.
Beyond the health intervention, the state government distributed food and non-food relief materials to affected residents in PHALGA and Obio/Akpor.
Odu, who commended the Port Harcourt City Council Chairman, Hon. Allwell Ihunda, for clearing drains and waterways, urged residents to stop dumping refuse in gutters and drainage channels.
She also appealed to developers to desist from blocking natural waterways and drainage channels with buildings and other structures, stressing that effective management of the recurring flooding required the cooperation of government, residents and other stakeholders.
In Obio/Akpor, Odu, who spoke through the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi S. I. Brown, said Governor Siminalayi Fubara had directed the Ministry of Environment to investigate the root causes of the flooding and recommend sustainable solutions.
She conveyed the governor’s sympathy to affected residents and assured them of the government’s commitment to finding lasting solutions to the recurring flooding in the area.
Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Joyce Nyeche, thanked the governor and deputy governor for the intervention, assuring that the materials would be distributed to residents affected by the floods.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, disclosed that the Ministry had inspected Community Secondary School, Rumuopara, one of the schools affected by the flooding, and said government had identified the problem and would work towards addressing it.