Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed the Ministry of Health to conduct free quarterly medical check-ups for residents across the state’s eight local government areas.
Diri gave the directive on Sunday at St John’s Anglican Church, Olobiri, Kaiama, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, during a special thanksgiving service for the Ebedaowei of Kolokuma Kingdom, King Mozi Agara.
The governor said the exercise would enable residents who could not afford medical examinations to access free healthcare services at government secondary health facilities across the state.
He said, “I hereby direct the Honourable Commissioner for Health to commence a free health check across Bayelsa State, in all our secondary healthcare facilities across our different local government areas.
“This is particularly for those who are unable to afford it. They should go for a free medical checkup, which should be quarterly so that the place will not be congested.
“Every quarter, the ministry should have a register of those they have checked their health, whether it is for high blood pressure, high blood sugar or any other ailment, including cancer that is becoming prevalent.
“As a government, we cannot be silent on the issue of cancer. We cannot close our eyes as if we are not seeing what it is doing to our people.”
Diri urged residents to take advantage of the initiative by visiting the nearest government secondary health facility.
He said the Commissioner for Health would provide further details and announce the commencement of the exercise.
The governor also thanked God for the recovery of the Kolokuma monarch from a recent health condition and urged residents to honour their traditional leaders.
Describing traditional rulers as custodians of peace and order, Diri said they played important roles in resolving disputes, including family disagreements.
He added that their contributions to maintaining peace in their communities deserved greater recognition by the government.
At the service, Diri directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to submit proposals for the rehabilitation of damaged sections of the road from the Kaiama Bridge for approval.
He said he personally inspected projects across the state to obtain first-hand information about their condition rather than relying solely on reports.
In his sermon titled “The Supremacy of God”, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Northern Izon, Funkuro Amgbare, described God as supreme, saying no one could override His authority.
Amgbare said Olobiri now had a worship centre through God’s intervention and that the community had been liberated from the power of darkness.
The cleric recalled that the celebrant had been ill for some time and that he prayed for his recovery after being informed of his condition. He said God had miraculously granted the prayer.
Those present at the service included the governor’s wife, Dr Gloria Diri; the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi; members of the House representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw federal constituencies, Oforji Oboku and Rodney Ambaiowei; the Bayelsa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Warman Ogoriba; and the Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Irorodamie Komonibo, alongside other government officials.