Building systems that serve: Dr Adaeze's mission to transform Nigeria's healthcare from the ground up
From the halls of community clinics in Port Harcourt to the global stage in Geneva, Dr. Oreh is amplifying Nigeria's voice in shaping the future of public health.
Dr. Oreh's philosophy is as clear as it is powerful: true healthcare reform starts from the bottom up. That vision has guided her work across clinical practice, national health systems, and global advocacy.
In her role as Commissioner for Health, she has led transformative efforts under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara that have rapidly reshaped the health landscape of Rivers State.
Together, their administration has overseen the commissioning and operationalisation of the Bori Zonal Hospital, Prof. Kelsey Harrison Specialist Hospital, Dental Maxillo-facial, ENT & Ophthalmology annex of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), expanded intensive care capacity at RSUTH, and multi-specialty centres providing ENT, ophthalmology, and dental care in underserved communities.
The administration kicked off the state health insurance scheme in January 2024, and within a year, nearly 100,000 vulnerable persons had been enrolled – including pregnant women, children under five years, elderly, the poor within communities, persons with disabilities, and people living with HIV.
Over 35 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial zones had been renovated and equipped within one year of the administration, with a further 135 PHC revitalisation efforts ongoing, therefore ensuring that residents can access quality care closer to home.
With solar-powered clinics, upgraded trauma and surgical units, expanded bed capacity, and advanced diagnostics infrastructure, the improvements represent more than just construction—they signal a new era of equity and access.
Her innovations-approach extends to technology-driven solutions.
Under her leadership, Rivers State has pioneered the development of an artificial intelligence-based Mpox (Monkeypox) identification tool, designed by the state team at the recently inaugurated Institute of Infectious Disease Research and Development to enhance infectious disease surveillance and reporting.
The tool is particularly effective in remote locations, where access to specialist diagnostics is limited.
The scalable platform is part of a broader effort to improve early detection, notification systems, and epidemic preparedness across the state—positioning Rivers State as a model for data-driven public health strategies in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rivers State has also received national and regional awards for Primary Healthcare Leadership recognition earned through strategic public-private partnerships that support vaccine delivery, rural healthcare expansion, and family planning initiatives.
Each intervention speaks to her unwavering belief that sustainable healthcare must be both people-centered and systemically sound.
Dr. Oreh's credibility and expertise have earned her a seat at international policy tables. Most recently, she represented Nigeria at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva a pivotal gathering at a defining moment for global health.
With the approval and adoption of the Pandemic Accord, Member States committed to preventing and responding to future health crises with renewed urgency and unity.
'As part of Nigeria's delegation, I'm honoured to bring our perspectives to the global stage—grounded in real-world experience, innovation, and a drive for resilient, equitable systems,' she stated. 'Together, we are shaping a healthier, more inclusive future.'
Her academic journey reflects the same commitment to excellence. She is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with dual Master's degrees in Public Health and International Health Management from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London.
She is currently completing her doctoral research at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Her leadership training includes programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, and the University of Oxford.
Before becoming Commissioner, Dr. Oreh served as Country Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the National Blood Service Commission, where she played a key role in the passage of the National Blood Service Commission Act (2021).
Her deep knowledge of policy reform and healthcare systems informs her work today in championing access, affordability, and public trust in health governance.
Her advocacy extends to women's health, reproductive rights, and community welfare.
Through her Kaibeya Care Foundation and advisory roles in multiple non-profit organizations, she supports orphans, widows, prisoners, and underserved groups across Nigeria.
As a National Self-Care Champion for Sexual and Reproductive Health with the White Ribbon Alliance, she has been a vocal proponent of bodily autonomy, safe motherhood, and gender equity in healthcare.
She is also unafraid to confront the intersection of health and economic inequality.
Whether engaging with public discourse on topics like fertility options, reproductive technologies, or maternal health, she consistently emphasizes the role of economic empowerment and systemic reform in enabling true health autonomy especially for women.
Dr. Oreh has earned fellowships and accolades from the Aspen Institute, the Amujae Leaders Initiative of Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, and the Kofi Annan Foundation's Global Health Leadership program.
She is a recognized voice across multiple global platforms, yet remains deeply grounded in the realities of Nigerian communities.
In every role she occupies clinician, policymaker, advocate, or public speaker Dr. Adaeze Oreh is modeling a kind of leadership that is bold, compassionate, and unshakably people-focused.
As Nigeria confronts the complexities of healthcare delivery in a fast-changing world, her work reminds us that lasting change begins not in theory, but in action clinic by clinic, community by community, and policy by policy.
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