RSG Extends ?200,000 Cash Support, Free Medicals To Flood Victims In Eneka

The Rivers State Government has extended its flood relief intervention to residents of Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, providing ?200,000 cash support to affected households and enrolling victims in the State’s health insurance scheme for one year of free healthcare.

The intervention, according to the Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, is part of the State Government’s comprehensive response to the devastating floods that affected several communities across the State.

Odu, who spoke through the Head of Service of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown said the intervention was carried out on the directive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

She stated this during the distribution of the ?200,000 stipends to flood-affected residents of Eneka at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

According to her, the State Government had adopted a three-pronged approach to mitigate the impact of the flooding on affected residents.

She explained that the first phase involved the distribution of relief materials to affected communities, while the second phase focused on the enrolment of flood victims in the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme, providing beneficiaries with access to free healthcare for one year.

The deputy governor said the payment of the ?200,000 stipend constituted the third phase of the intervention, noting that while the financial assistance could not replace what residents had lost, it was intended to cushion the economic hardship caused by the disaster.

She urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the healthcare coverage provided by the State Government, saying they would be directed to designated health facilities where they could access medical treatment.

Odu also assured residents that the government was addressing some of the environmental factors responsible for the flooding.

She said officials of the Ministry of Environment were working to identify and clear blockages in waterways and drainage channels to facilitate the free flow of floodwaters.

The deputy governor further disclosed that the government was pursuing long-term measures to address the recurring flooding, expressing optimism that the current experience would not be repeated.

She assured the affected residents that Governor Fubara and the State Government shared in their pain and remained committed to finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting flood-affected communities.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Echebiri Wobidi appealed to the State Government to urgently rehabilitate and open up drainage channels in Eneka to address the recurring flooding.

He commended the deputy governor for leading the State’s flood intervention efforts and for personally visiting affected communities to assess the situation.

On her part, the wife of the Traditional Ruler of Eneka, Queen Blessing Woko, expressed appreciation to the State Government for its concern for flood victims, describing the intervention as an indication that the people had not been forgotten.

Queen Woko commended Odu’s humility and commitment, saying her visit to the community demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of the people.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader in Eneka, Mr. Gift Opurum, commended the Rivers State Government for its intervention and called for a permanent solution to the recurring flooding in the community.

He thanked the State Government for coming to the aid of affected residents, noting that the relief materials and ?200,000 cash support had provided some succour to the victims.