Bayelsa upgrades 62 hospitals in two years, says commissioner

The Bayelsa State Government says it has renovated, upgraded and equipped 62 primary and secondary healthcare facilities across the state in the past two years to improve access to quality medical services.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Seiyefa Brisibe, disclosed this on Friday during the 201st session of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa.

Brisibe said the facilities comprised 49 primary healthcare centres and 13 secondary healthcare facilities located in Yenagoa and hard-to-reach communities across the state.

He commended Governor Douye Diri for investing in healthcare infrastructure, workers’ welfare and human capacity development, noting that the administration had introduced measures to improve working conditions and service delivery.

The commissioner said the governor had directed that renovated, upgraded or newly constructed healthcare facilities should have residential accommodation for health workers and at least two sources of electricity.

Brisibe said, “I stand here today, Your Excellency, to extol and celebrate your phenomenal development effort in creating access to quality and robust healthcare for all Bayelsans.

“Between 2024 and today, we have upgraded, renovated and equipped 49 primary healthcare facilities across the state.

“Also within this period, you have upgraded, renovated and equipped 13 secondary care facilities across the state.”

He said the administration’s investment extended beyond urban centres to rural communities where access to healthcare had remained a challenge.

“One of the most intriguing parts of this investment is that it is not just about facilities in Yenagoa but also about creating access to those very difficult-to-reach areas,” the commissioner stated.

Brisibe added that the government had strengthened healthcare delivery through ambulance services and improved welfare packages for medical personnel.

“You have also invested in all of the health sector value chain to improve access by providing ambulance services and also invested in human capital development,” he said.

The commissioner reiterated that the governor had directed that healthcare facilities undergoing renovation, upgrading or construction should provide accommodation for medical workers.

He quoted Diri as directing that “any health facility that we renovate or upgrade or build must have residential quarters for the workers.”

Brisibe added, “You also directed that the health facility must have a minimum of two sources of power supply. That is, either it is solarised with a generator, or with the national grid.”

He said the measures were intended to ensure that healthcare workers could operate effectively, particularly in rural communities where inadequate electricity and accommodation could affect service delivery.

Brisibe made the remarks while presenting a delegation of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, led by its President, Annas Idris, to the governor.

He said the association had about 20,000 members employed by state governments in secondary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas across the country.

The association presented Diri with an Award of Exemplary Leadership in recognition of his administration’s investments in the health sector.

Speaking during the visit, Idris commended the state government for renovating primary and secondary healthcare facilities and deploying drone technology to deliver essential medical supplies, including blood and vaccines, to hard-to-reach communities.

He said the use of technology had improved access to essential medical supplies in communities where conventional transportation could take considerably longer.

Idris also praised the administration for approving improved welfare packages for medical and dental practitioners, including accomplishment allowances, specialist allowances and a revised professional allowances table.

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He said the measures would improve the morale of health workers, strengthen productivity and help address the migration of medical professionals from Nigeria.

The NAGGMDP president said, “The investment in healthcare infrastructure, particularly the renovation of primary and secondary healthcare facilities, is commendable.”

He also lauded the state’s use of drone technology to transport blood, vaccines and other essential medical supplies to remote communities, describing it as an important step towards improving healthcare delivery.

Idris recalled the association’s 2025 medical outreach through the Nigerian Doctors Foundation in Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, Ogbia and Yenagoa local government areas.

He said the exercise provided medical services and assistive devices at the state’s School for Children with Special Needs.

The association’s president also sought the state government’s support for the 2026 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, scheduled for December 3, to extend the outreach to the remaining four local government areas.

Responding, Diri expressed appreciation for the award, which he dedicated to the commissioner for health and members of the State Executive Council for their contributions to the development of the sector.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to healthcare investment, noting that Bayelsa was among the few states in Nigeria with a specialised medical university.

He said, “You can imagine the level of investment in certain institutions, and I am sure that your colleagues from Bayelsa would have taken you around the Bayelsa Medical University here in Yenagoa, and the other campus in Sampou.”

Diri said his administration would continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure, medical education and technology to improve access to services across the state.

He also highlighted the state’s partnership with Zipline, saying the drone delivery system had significantly reduced the time required to transport medical supplies to remote communities.

“I believe you have seen what we have done, as you rightly mentioned, with Zipline in delivering health services to far-flung communities, which hitherto would have taken us a longer time to reach,” the governor said.

“But through the Zipline drone system, it takes only minutes for the requirements and consignment to be delivered to those communities. As a government, we will continue to prioritise healthcare.”

The governor said improved access to medical supplies and investment in healthcare facilities remained important components of his administration’s development agenda.

Meanwhile, Diri appealed to politicians and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns as political activities intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He warned that abusive language, inflammatory statements and personal attacks could create unnecessary tension and undermine peaceful coexistence among residents.

The governor urged political parties and their supporters to focus on policies, programmes and issues affecting the welfare of the people rather than resorting to verbal attacks against opponents.

He said political differences should not destroy the bonds among residents, stressing that Bayelsans remained brothers and sisters irrespective of their political affiliations.

Diri urged political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements and conduct their campaigns in ways that would preserve peace, unity and stability in the state.