Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, has directed the state Ministry of Health to provide free quarterly medical check-ups for residents living with cancer, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and other health conditions.
Diri gave the directive during a thanksgiving service for the Ebedaowei of Kolokuma Kingdom, King Mozi Agara, at Saint John’s Anglican Church, Olobiri, Kaiama, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, over the weekend.
The governor said the initiative would particularly benefit residents who could not afford medical services at government-owned secondary healthcare facilities across the state’s local government areas.
“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,” he said.
Diri directed the ministry to conduct the exercise every three months and maintain a register of beneficiaries to prevent overcrowding at the facilities.
He expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of cancer, stressing that the government could not ignore its impact on residents.
The governor urged Bayelsans to take advantage of the initiative by visiting their nearest secondary healthcare facility, adding that the Commissioner for Health would provide further details on the exercise.
Diri also thanked God for the recovery of the Kolokuma monarch from an illness and urged residents to show respect for traditional rulers, whom he described as custodians of peace and order in their communities.
He said traditional rulers played important roles in resolving disputes, including family-related conflicts, and deserved greater recognition for their contributions to governance.
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to submit proposals for the rehabilitation of damaged sections of the road leading from the Kaiama Bridge for approval.
He said he personally inspected projects across the state to obtain first-hand information on 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, Rt. Rev. Funkuro Amgbare, said the celebrant’s recovery from illness was an answer to prayer.
Dignitaries at the service included the governor’s wife, Dr Gloria Diri; Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi; House of Representatives member Oforji Oboku; Southern Ijaw representative Rodney Ambaiowei; Bayelsa APC Chairman, Warman Ogoriba; and Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Irorodamie Komonibo, among other government officials.