Gov. Douye Diri ordered Compulsory Medical Check-up for Bayelsa Cabinet Members

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has directed all members of the State Executive Council to undergo compulsory medical check-ups.

The directive was given during the first executive council meeting on Wednesday, following the recent death of Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. Diri said the move was necessary to ensure cabinet members remain medically fit, given the demands of public office, and to prevent avoidable deaths.

The governor disclosed that an autopsy had been conducted on the late deputy governor and that the results would be made public at the appropriate time. He also warned against politicising the death, adding that a burial committee has been set up and funeral details will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health, Seiyefa Brisibe, presented an award plaque and a dummy cheque of $400,000 won by Bayelsa as first runner-up in the South-South Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge, funded by UNICEF, Dangote Group and other partners.

Diri described the achievement as encouraging, saying it reflected the state’s growing investment in the health sector. Brisibe attributed the recognition to the governor’s commitment to healthcare development and also presented him with a Distinguished Leadership Award in Governance.