Niger Delta
Ewhrudjakpo Advises Health Educators On Public Health Promotion
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has emphasized the need for health educators to take public health education more serious.
He identified ignorance as a major contributor to the relatively high mortality rate in the country, saying about 60 percent of Nigerians attribute their health challenges to spiritual sources.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo made the assertion while granting audience to the state branch of the Nigerian Association of Health Educators (NAHE) at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to a statement issued at the weekend by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor lamented that most families have lost their loved ones to avoidable deaths through wrong attribution and erroneous belief systems.
He also noted that apart from deaths caused by insecurity, lives were being mowed down due to policy defects and poor implementation of health programmes in the country.
To change the narrative, Senator Ewhrudjakpo stressed the need for public health educators to redefine their roles and functions in the delivery of healthcare services with a view to carving a respectable niche for themselves in the health sector.
He advised the NAHE delegation that the only way they could distinguish themselves from other health professionals is to make behaviour change communication their main focus.
According to the Deputy Governor, there was a need for the Association to change its name to reflect what he called “public health education promoters”, noting that virtually every health practitioner in Nigeria claims to be a health educator.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo reminded them that many health problems Nigerians face were diet and lifestyle-related, and could be overcome through aggressive public health campaigns involving leading Christian, Muslim and other religious organizations.
“You must distinguish what you are doing from what others are doing. You are supposed to do what is called behaviour change communication.
“That is your job. It is your communication that will determine the public’s health attitude. Over 60 percent of Nigerians believe that all their health problems are caused by spiritual reasons.
“You have not been able to change that impression. That is your turf. What are the programmes you have lined up to change that erroneous belief?
“You need to interface with faith-based organizations like Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and others to upscale your behaviuor change communication”, he said.
Earlier in his presentation, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Health Educators, Dr. Doubrapade Walker, highlighted the key responsibilities of health educators in the the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery system, including social mobilization and fostering effective community partnership.
Walker, who thanked the Deputy Governor for squeezing time out of his tight schedule to receive them, appealed to the State Government to come up with a policy framework to fully integrate health educators to function professionally in the health sector of the state.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.