The Rivers State Government has confirmed the death of one patient from Lassa Fever in the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Sempson Parker, who confirmed the incident during the Open Governance Forum orgnised in Port Harcourt by the State Ministry of Information and communications, last Thursday, said that the victim died, while receiving treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Dr Parker also announced the alleged outbreak of Measles in Obio/Akpor and Etche local government areas as well as Iymphatic filariasis, commonly called dephantiasis transmitted by mosquitoe in Andoni and Opobo areas.
He said that the government had raised immunization level from 40 to 80 per cent, while mortality due to malaria had dropped significantly.
The commissioner also said that the government had completed more than 120 health centres, while efforts had lien made to upgrade the Braithwad Memorial Spenalist Hospital (BMSH) to intenational standard.
He stressed the need for churches to assist the government by enjoining their members to take active part in immunization exercises.
In his presentation, the state Commissioner for Works, Hon Victor Giadom said that out of the N584 billion budgeted for completion of various roads and bridges, N380 billion had been paid.
Hon. Giadom said that Rivers State had the highest number of dvalised roads in the federation, noting that the Ada-George Road would be completed very soon while the Airforce Flyover under construction would be completed in the next 30 days.
He said that 22 concrete bridges were currently under construction, some of which include’ bridges in the Ogoni/Bolo bridge, now completed, the Peter Odili-Woji bridge at 80 pre cent completion as well as the shore protection at Opobo Town, Queenstown, Obu-amongst others.
The commissioner for Education, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Ofuru said that, out of the 500 primary schools under construction, 264 had been completed and functional while the model secondary school at Ebubu, Eleme was now functional.
The permanent secretary also said that the 13,000 teachers recently recruited will be issued with appointment letters in the next three weeks.