As part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across Rivers State, the Ministry of Health has inaugurated two key health committees: the Infection Prevention and Control/Antimicrobial Resistance (IPC/AMR) Technical Working Group and the Rivers State Eye Health Committee.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Port Harcourt, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, described the establishment of the Eye Health Committee as timely, noting that eye health remains an under-emphasized but critical component of the state’s broader health agenda.
According to her, millions of Nigerians continue to suffer visual impairments and preventable blindness despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimates that over 80 percent of blindness cases are treatable.
Dr. Oreh emphasized the State Government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Rivers people through integrated and people-centered health initiatives.
She therefore challenged the committee to develop strategies to enhance eye health data collection, improve access to preventive and rehabilitative eye care at primary and secondary health levels, strengthen collaboration with professional associations and partners, and promote public awareness on early detection and care-seeking behavior.
On the inauguration of the Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance Technical Working Group, the commissioner described the committee as a significant step toward strengthening public health and improving patient safety across all levels of care.
She warned that antimicrobial resistance remains one of the world’s top ten health threats, driven by the misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture.
She noted that effective IPC practices are essential for restoring public confidence in health facilities, adding that the Technical Working Group will provide coordination, policy direction, and oversight of IPC and AMR activities across the state.
Dr. Oreh commended the State Epidemiology Unit, the Department of Public Health, and partners including the WHO for their support, expressing optimism that the committees will help build a more resilient health system aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Health for All Rivers strategy.
Responding, the Chairman of both committees, Dr. Alali Dan-Jumbo, expressed confidence that the groups would bring meaningful improvements to the state’s healthcare system.
He emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in infection prevention across health facilities, warning that unchecked infections fuel antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Dan-Jumbo added that the committees, composed of seasoned experts and health professionals, are well-equipped to drive change and strengthen health outcomes across Rivers State.
