Anambra State has expressed strong commitment to partnering the federal government to adequately provide for the health needs of its citizens especially the poor, the down-trodden and the forgotten.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that Anambra Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo stated this when the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate paid a courtesy call on him at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia on Tuesday.
Governor Soludo while appreciating the Health Minister for the great job he is doing, especially for recognizing that human capital is a critical part of development, to which health is the nucleus, assured to continue partnering the federal government in prioritizing primary healthcare provision for ndị Anambra.
Soludo who sadly reflected that the life expectancy of the average Nigerian is one of the lowest, pointed out that his administration is prioritising primary healthcare, to grant access and affordability to citizens who truly have need of it.
The Governor added that because of his administration’s targeted interventions in the sector, over 60,000 people have benefitted from its free antenatal care and delivery services and maintained that his government is intentionally prioritizing provision of portable water, sanitation, waste management for a greater number of ndị Anambra.
While basking in his administration’s Public-Private-Community-Partnership, PPCP model, Governor Soludo called for a rethink of the mechanisms in delivering value to the people to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, through devolution of responsibilities.
Governor Soludo pointed out that his administration is already driving development in the health sector across the 326 political wards in Anambra and
ongoing construction of a pharmaceutical hub in Ogboji, among others expressing optimism that beyond being a drug distribution point, Anambra would become a drug manufacturing point which will ultimately enhance quality assurance.
Soludo also identified water, sanitation, waste management and nutrition as great priorities for his government which also ties into what the federal government is doing, expressing optimism that Anambra and the federal government will continue to join hands to foster partnership that will benefit the people.
Governor Soludo revealed that when he took over the reins of power, 78% of ndị Anambra used to assess healthcare through private institutions, announcing that as he began to intervene, the percentage kept decreasing.
“I see room for partnership in this regard.
Strategic partnership along this chain will get it to work”, the Governor revealed. The programmes we implement here is not only for Anambra but for Nigeria.
“When we assumed office, seventy eight percent of our people access healthcare through the private institutions, but today, as we are providing for their health needs, the number is decreasing”, Soludo stressed.
In his speech, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate commended Governor Soludo’s forthrightness in service delivery to ndị Anambra, having observed it from the proactiveness of the state health team and assured of deepening the synergy between Anambra state and the federal government, especially in the health sector.
The Minister noted that because of Governor Soludo’s leadership, more people now have access to quality and affordable healthcare across the state and encouraged him to do more.
