Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has pledged sustained investment in healthcare, saying the state is working towards becoming a health tourism destination.
Fubara made the commitment on Tuesday in Port Harcourt while delivering a goodwill message to mark World Health Day 2026, reaffirming his administration’s focus on expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
He urged residents to adopt healthy lifestyles, maintain proper hygiene, and take proactive steps to prevent avoidable diseases, stressing the importance of community participation in health promotion.
According to him, “Our communities need to participate in health promotion as collective efforts are essential to strengthening awareness and supporting local health initiatives”.
The governor highlighted key achievements of his administration, including the recruitment of over 2,000 health workers to strengthen manpower and improve efficiency across health facilities in the state.
He also said the government has revitalised healthcare delivery through infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of a health insurance scheme aimed at improving access and affordability.
Fubara added that Rivers State is committed to positioning itself as a health tourism hub by ensuring efficient, accessible, and high-quality medical services.
He disclosed that previously abandoned zonal hospitals in Bori, Omoku, Ahoada, and Degema have been revived and expanded under his administration.
He further noted that 153 Primary Healthcare Centres have been remodelled across the state to improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
The governor also revealed that over 400 staff of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital have been promoted, while an additional 500 personnel have been recruited to boost healthcare delivery.
World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to raise awareness on global health issues and mobilise action, with the 2026 theme, “Together for Health: Stand with Science”, emphasising collaboration and evidence-based solutions in global healthcare.
