Governor Douye Diri has called on corporate organizations, multinational companies, and interventionist agencies to invest in the health sector, particularly in the infrastructural and human resource development of the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.
The governor, who was represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, made the appeal during a charity ball and gala night organized by the management of the medical centre in Yenagoa.
Delivering the governor’s message, Prof. Brisibe emphasized that the Bayelsa State Government remains committed to strengthening healthcare delivery through strategic partnerships and sustained investment. He noted that the health sector occupies a central place in the administration’s prosperity agenda, stressing that improved healthcare infrastructure and manpower development are critical to achieving better health outcomes for the people.
He commended the management of FMC Yenagoa for initiating the fundraising gala, describing it as a proactive and innovative step toward addressing longstanding infrastructural deficits.
According to him, government alone cannot shoulder the burden of healthcare financing, hence the need for collaboration with the private sector and development partners.
Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Godknows Igali, in his remarks, described the event as timely and significant, noting that healthcare remains a fundamental pillar of national development. He urged corporate organizations, well-meaning individuals, and international partners to key into the initiative, stressing that investing in health is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic investment in human capital.
Ambassador Igali further emphasized that institutions like FMC Yenagoa require sustained support to function optimally, adding that improved healthcare infrastructure would not only benefit Bayelsa State but the entire Niger Delta region. He commended the hospital management for introducing innovative fundraising mechanisms and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the institution, Dr. James Omietimi, reiterated the urgent need for intervention, noting that the facility has continued to operate under significant constraints despite its strategic importance in the region.
He explained that the hospital, which began as Yenagoa General Hospital in 1957 and later became a Specialist Hospital in 1996, was upgraded to a Federal Medical Centre in 1999 with a mandate to serve as a centre of excellence. However, he noted that the lack of modern equipment and critical infrastructure has limited its capacity to meet growing healthcare demands.
Omietimi disclosed that the hospital requires essential equipment such as CT scan machines, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, incubators, phototherapy units, autoclaves, and anaesthetic machines, adding that stable electricity supply remains a major challenge.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, acknowledged the pivotal role of FMC Yenagoa in providing tertiary healthcare services in the region.
He assured that the commission would continue to support critical health infrastructure as part of its mandate.
Ogbuku stressed that investment in healthcare is essential for sustainable development, noting that a healthy population is key to economic growth and productivity. He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure impactful interventions.
Other dignitaries, including representatives of corporate organizations and financial institutions, commended the initiative and pledged support toward improving the hospital’s facilities, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in bridging funding gaps.
A major highlight of the event was the introduction of a novel fundraising initiative that allows individuals and organizations to sponsor specific hospital units, which would be named after them.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards of honour to Governor Diri, his wife, Gloria Diri, and other distinguished personalities, including Samuel Ogbuku, in recognition of their contributions to healthcare development in the state.