The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate, has commended Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for his commitment to improving healthcare, particularly through the establishment of the Hemodialysis and General Out-Patient Centre at the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa.
The minister, who inaugurated the new facility on Tuesday as part of activities marking Diri’s fifth anniversary, described it as a significant step toward tackling non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure. He noted that addressing these health challenges reflects the governor’s deep commitment to the welfare of Bayelsans and aligns with the federal government’s health policy.
“What the Bayelsa State government is doing in the health sector is commendable and in line with our national strategy, where states take the lead in investing resources while the federal government supports them to meet the people’s needs,” Ali-Pate said.
He also praised Diri for appointing a seasoned health professional, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, as the state’s Commissioner for Health, noting that Brisibe’s competence had caught the attention of the federal ministry.
In his remarks, Governor Diri revealed that the idea for the hemodialysis centre stemmed from the personal loss of his mother to renal failure in 2013, which inspired his desire to ensure that others have access to life-saving treatment.
“I feel fulfilled that Bayelsans will no longer have to travel far for treatment or suffer from preventable deaths due to kidney failure. This centre is a dream come true,” Diri said. He also acknowledged the support of the former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for donating N500 million to the Bayelsa Medical University, stating that the funds were used judiciously.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, described the inauguration of the centre as a milestone in the state’s drive toward universal access to healthcare, emphasizing its importance in combating the growing burden of kidney disease in Bayelsa and beyond.
As part of the celebrations, the minister also inaugurated the Zipline Aerial Logistics Delivery System complex and an 800-metre concrete access road at Elebele.
