The immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Professor Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has called for stronger accountability, sustainable healthcare financing, and evidence-based planning to improve healthcare delivery across the state ahead of 2027.
Oreh made the call on Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Rivers State Health Sector Joint Annual Review Meeting in Port Harcourt, held under the theme, “Evidence to Action for Better Health Outcomes in Rivers State.”
She described the Joint Annual Review as more than a routine administrative exercise, noting that it provides an important platform for evaluating performance, identifying gaps, and aligning strategies to protect and improve the health and well-being of residents.
“The mandate of this year’s Joint Annual Review is clear: we must turn evidence into action, and data into tangible human impact,” she said.
The former commissioner advocated the adoption of digital health technologies, electronic health records and reliable data-reporting systems to strengthen healthcare planning, improve service delivery and enhance supply chain management.
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According to her, these measures would support informed decision-making and ensure the timely availability of essential medicines and other medical commodities across healthcare facilities.
Oreh also emphasised the importance of accountability in building public trust and sustaining partnerships within the health sector, insisting that transparency must remain a fundamental requirement for progress.
“Progress without accountability is fleeting,” she said.
On healthcare financing, she urged relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to expand enrolment in health insurance schemes, noting that wider coverage would reduce financial barriers to accessing medical services and protect families from falling into poverty because of healthcare expenses.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said the 2026 review would assess critical areas of health sector performance, including survival and equity, continuity of care, service quality, system capacity, health intelligence and the implementation of corrective actions.
Wachukwu explained that activities undertaken during the period under review, particularly in data quality improvement, health workforce analysis, oversight of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), service readiness and operational planning, had helped the ministry assess the conditions required for effective healthcare delivery across the state.
“This Joint Annual Review should establish where these efforts are producing improvement and where further support is needed,” he said.
The review is expected to enable health sector stakeholders to evaluate progress, identify persistent challenges, and strengthen evidence-based interventions aimed at improving healthcare services and health outcomes across Rivers State.
