Senator Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State, has instructed the Ministry of Health to carry out free medical check-ups every quarter for residents throughout the state’s eight local government areas.
Diri issued the directive on Sunday at St. John’s Anglican Church in Olobiri, Kaiama, within the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, at a special thanksgiving service held for the Ebedaowei of the Kolokuma Kingdom, King Mozi Agara.
According to the governor, the initiative would allow residents who cannot afford medical examinations to receive free healthcare services at government secondary health facilities throughout 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 for whom 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 encouraged residents to make the most of the initiative by going to the closest government secondary health facility.
He stated that the Commissioner for Health would give additional information and declare when the exercise would begin.
The governor also gave thanks to God for the recovery of the Kolokuma monarch from a recent health issue and called on residents to respect their traditional leaders.
Diri, who described traditional rulers as guardians of peace and order, said they were instrumental in settling disputes, including disagreements within families.
He further noted that their efforts in sustaining peace within their communities warranted more recognition from the government.
During the service, Diri instructed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to present proposals for repairing the damaged portions of the road from the Kaiama Bridge so they could be approved.
He mentioned that he personally examined projects throughout the state to get direct knowledge of their condition instead of depending only 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 stated that through God’s intervention, Olobiri now possessed a worship center and that the community had been set free from the power of darkness.
The cleric remembered that the celebrant had been unwell for a period and that, upon learning of his condition, he prayed for his recovery. He noted that God had answered the prayer in a miraculous way.
Among those at the service were the governor’s wife, Dr. Gloria Diri; Chief Fred Agbedi, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; Oforji Oboku and Rodney Ambaiowei, members of the House representing the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw federal constituencies; Warman Ogoriba, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress; and the Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Irorodamie Komonibo, together with other government officials.
