In line with his commitment and avowed bid to revolutionise healthcare delivery system in the state and sustain the provision of free maternal and child healthcare delivery, Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has given an assurance that he would employ more doctors to double their number in public hospitals and increase the salaries of nurses working in rural areas as incentives to motivate them for increased productivity.
Governor Obiano gave these assurances at the official handover of the Ofu Obi Comprehensive Health Centre, Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area to the state. He pointed out that the name of the centre would be retained and announced a donation of an ambulance, ultra sound and x-ray machine to the health centre to enhance its service delivery to the people.
On the other hand, Governor Obiano demonstrated his administration’s determination to create access road to agricultural communities and government facilities, as he approved the reconstruction of Nibo-Umubele-Umuelechi-Zik’s Road to open up access to sites including the 1,000 housing units for the state civil servants and police housing Estates.
Obiano explained that the state had commenced the rehabilitation of 37 general hospitals and 233 primary health centres to reposition them to meet the health needs of the people.
Obiano said: “It is important to build a healthy citizenry to ensure all-round development of the state.”
He urged multi-national companies and other investors to contribute in support of hospitals and school projects as part of their social responsibility.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, said the take-over would ensure that the centre was put to effective and optimal use. Akabuike explained that the state government would also build mega hospitals, state-of-the-art diagnostic centres, mobile clinics and mobile ambulance.
A community leader, Chief Damian Okeke, while thanking the governor for the intervention, called his attention to the challenges of gully erosion ravaging the community and requested for government presence in the area.
Speaking while inspecting the Obizi Bridge along Ugwuajilija Isiagu in Umuawulu Road, Obiano said the road would be designed while work would commence in earnest after the rainy season. He expressed satisfaction with the work done so far on the bridge, and disclosed that the contractor had been paid fully to deliver the road project within two weeks, adding that the road would have all components of a standard road and other necessary road fixtures. He said when completed, the road would alleviate the challenges faced by the people and boost socio-economic activities.
The Majority Leader, Anambra State House of Assembly, Harford Oseke, thanked the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises to the people and requested the governor to also include the Isiagu-Ndikpa-Ndiukwuenu Road in the state road reconstruction programme.
Earlier, Commissioner for Works, Sir Callistus Ilozumba, recalled the deplorable condition of the road before the state government embarked on the reconstruction project and highlighted the strategic importance of the road as major access road to various farming communities and government facilities to be sited in the area.
Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area, Mr. Romanus Iloh, noted that Governor Obiano had raised the bar of governance and provided condusive environment for socio-economic activities to thrive in the state.
