The Rivers State Government has reopened St. Charles Surgery, a medical facility at Akiama Community in Bonny Local Government Area of the State, which was sealed up as a result of an incident that occurred on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee of the State Ministry of Health, Hope Avunda, accompanied by the Secretary of the committee, Vivian Ile, announced the reopening on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at the premises of St. Charles Surgery in Akiama, Bonny LGA, Rivers State.  

According to him, the action was consequent upon the directive of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, after the management of the facility fulfilled all requirements imposed on it in the wake of the unfortunate incident that resulted in the loss of a life there.

“The State Ministry of Health had interfaced with the owner, and penalties and conditions have been met, and the Governor has directed that the facility be reopened to operate according to guidelines of medical practice, and we hope that the facility will follow in line with due process and standard medical practice.”

Dr. Avunda noted that the State Governor is massively investing to revamp the Health Sector, of which both primary and secondary health sectors are receiving serious attention, including the Bonny General Hospital.

“We wouldn’t want a situation where people will not be able to get what they desire in terms of medical care because of lack of access or unaffordability or negligence, especially in an emergency situation.

“By the magnanimity of the Executive Governor, this health facility, St. Charles Surgery, has been reopened to attend to the health needs of the people of Bonny community. There was massive outcry for it to be reopened; so we thank the Governor for listening to the demands of the people.”

The Chairman of the Rivers State Anti-Quackery Committee of the Ministry of Health also used the medium to inform the people of the Health Insurance Scheme under the Rivers State Health Protection Agency.

“It is one thing the people of Bonny should key into. With that one you will just walk into a health facility and they will attend to you because the mechanism for payment is there already. It means your bill will be sent to the Rivers State Health Insurance Program and it will be taken care of.

“So when you go to a hospital they don’t need to wait until you have paid money before they start attending to you. This will save you the rigours of trying to pay money before a patient receives attention. I would like to advise Bonny people to take advantage of this program.”

In her reaction, the Manager of St. Charles Surgery, Delight Moses, who spoke on behalf of the management, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for reopening the hospital.

“I wish to say thank you to our Governor for this gesture, though we were not culpable as it was reported on the social media. But I wish to say that we are here to give maximum service to the people of Bonny, like we have always done.

“Though personal tendencies of mannerisms or attitudes may hinder us sometimes – which you may not actually manage as it is unfolding, but we are reassuring that we are here to carry out our clinical activities in the actual professional manner that our Managing Director has been doing it.”

Delight Moses went on to say that throughout her three years with St. Charles Surgery, they have never prioritized money over the life or wellbeing of their patients.

“Since I joined this organization three years ago, I have not seen that attitude of asking for money first before an emergency situation will be attended to. What I met here, and what has remained the standard here, is that people are quickly and promptly attended to in emergency situations to manage their health. So, later, they can come and talk about the money.

“Definitely, you cannot rule out the financial perspective to managing a health facility like this one. But we make it a standard here to attend to emergency cases first before talking about money. So, I sincerely thank the Governor for reopening this facility.”