The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) has commissioned the renovated Modern Primary Health Care Centre (MPHC), Woji, and flagged off a two-day free medical outreach aimed at improving access to quality health care for residents of the community.The commissioning ceremony which held at the health centre in Woji, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, attracted top government officials, stakeholders in the health sectors, community leaders, and residents, marking another milestone in the Rivers State Government’s drive to reposition primary health care delivery.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Joyce Nyeche, who represented the Chairman, Hon. Dr. Gift Worlu, expressed deep appreciation to the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board for renovating the facility and initiating the free medical outreach.
She described health as the true foundation of wealth, stressing that without good health, economic prosperity is meaningless. Dr. Joyce Nyeche urged residents of Woji to take responsibility for the maintenance of the facility, emphasizing that government alone cannot sustain public infrastructure without community ownership.
Calling on the people to protect the health centre, she warned against the attitude of neglecting government property, noting that facilities deteriorate faster when users fail to take responsibility.
She also assured the community that concerns raised over the poor state of the access road to the facility would be conveyed to the council chairman, whom she described as a committed and proactive leader.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of RSPHCMB, Dr. Adele Chituru, recounted the poor state of the Woji health facility when the board assumed office about six months ago. According to him, the centre was run-down, non-functional, and demoralizing for staff, recording very low patient turnout despite serving a densely populated area.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Dawari George, said the commissioning was the outcome of careful planning and strategic prioritization of high-density communities across the state. He stressed that primary health care is community-centered and can only be effective with active community participation.
Dr. Dawari George lamented the long-standing neglect of public facilities due to poor maintenance culture, stating that the current board is determined to ensure continuous and deliberate upgrade of similar facilties across the State.
Representing the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Justina Jumbo, described the event as a major milestone in the state government’s commitment to strengthening primary health care as the foundation of an inclusive and resilient health system.
She emphasized that while government can build and equip facilities, their sustainability depends largely on strong maintenance culture, responsible usage, and community ownership.
She called on health workers, community leaders, and residents to jointly protect the facility from vandalism, misuse, and neglect. She thereafter formally commissioned the renovated MPHC Woji and declared the two-day free medical outreach officially flagged off.
Speaking on behalf of the Woji community, the Prime Minister of Woji, Dr. Tony Chuku, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government and the RSPHCMB for the intervention, describing the renovated facility as a major boost to community health care.
Signed:
Goodluck Nsirim
Chief Press Secretary, Obio/Akpor LGA
January 13, 2026
