Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State Governor and candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Saturday’s election, fiercely campaigned in Ekwusigo and Nnewi South LGAs, urging citizens to prepare for the APGA on November 8.
During a rally in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo, Soludo urged citizens to make sure they have their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ready to exercise their democratic rights. He underlined the importance of active involvement in the political process, saying, “Voting with your PVCs is essential for shaping the future of our state.”
The governor told the residents of Ekwusigo that his administration will continue to prioritize important developmental areas such as security, infrastructure, human capital development, and healthcare for the next four years.
Governor Soludo expressed gratitude for the support he has received, and significant community leaders such as Sir Jude Mbaegbu and Chief Ebuka Onunkwo reaffirmed their commitment by committing to make sure that every vote counts. Residents donated a staggering one hundred and fifty-one million naira to the governor’s campaign, demonstrating their faith in his leadership.
Continuing his campaign in Nnewi South, Soludo emphasized the importance of the election, labeling it “sacrosanct” at a gathering in Amichi organized by twenty wards in the area.
Reflecting on prior security issues that hampered campaigns in the last governorship election, he hailed the rally’s large turnout as evidence of increased safety and stability.
According to the governor’s chief press secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo congratulated citizens for their tremendous support for APGA and told them that his administration’s triumphs were only the beginning.
Leaders that spoke, including Chief Chidi Anyaegbu and Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu, expressed their support for the governor’s re-election, while Engr. Igweke Uche stated that the APGA has become a household brand in Nnewi South.
Furthermore, the community contributed N85 million to Soludo’s campaign, demonstrating the local government area’s devotion to his leadership and vision for Anambra State.
Meanwhile, Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr. Afam Obidike has stated that Soludo is more concerned with the welfare of the people, stressing that, with the November 8 election only a few days away, contractors are busy working on projects overseen by the governor.
Obidike, speaking while taking select journalists on a tour of some of the health facilities established by the Soludo administration, emphasized that although politicians are concerned with the next election, statesmen like Professor Soludo are concerned with the wellbeing of future generations.
Among the health facilities visited by the journalists are the newly commissioned Anaku General Hospital in the Ayamelum local government area, the Specialist Hospital, Fegge, in Onitsha South, the high-profile Trauma Center located within the premises of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, the Rehabilitation Center at Nibo in the Awka South local government area, and the Oxygen Plant at the Enugwu Ukwu General Hospital in the Njikoka local government area.
He said that Soludo purposefully constructed five brand-new general hospitals in the Anambra North senatorial zone where none previously existed, and that he rounded it off by instituting free antenatal care and delivery in all government-owned hospitals in the state.
All of the new hospitals are already completely outfitted, and hundreds of professionals have been hired to staff them.
According to Obidike, no fewer than 175 women have benefited from the free delivery service since its inception, and even after birth, the government continues to care for every kid by giving free healthcare and education up to SS3.
“The situation in Anambra is that once a baby is conceived, the government starts taking responsibility until the child gets to SS3. This is a novel policy, and I don’t think anybody will do something better than this,” he stated.
The Commissioner listed some of the state government’s accomplishments in the health sector, stating that Soludo established the Anambra State Emergency Medical Service, which is staffed by a full complement of professional health workers, and that more than 40 ambulances are stationed at health facilities to prevent patients from suffering during emergencies.
He claimed that some private sector individuals are collaborating with the government on the emergency health initiative because “we do not want anyone to suffer as a result of inadequate health care delivery.”
He stated that the new Specialist Hospital at Fegge has everything and that all types of doctors have been recruited to work there.
“All the necessary equipment has been procured and is being installed for official takeoffany time from now. It has trauma, neurology, gynecology, and dialysis centers, and the laboratory is comprehensive such that whatever test is required is conducted in-house.
“Every room/ward is piped with oxygen, and there is an alarm when there is any need for an emergency. The trauma center is built to provide comfort for patients and those who look after them. The trauma center located inside the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital was conceived to provide high-quality service, and it is a full hospital inside a hospital.
“Oxygen plants were built at Enugwu Ukwu and at the Federal Medical Center Onitsha before it was taken over by the federal government. The oxygen plants supply all health facilities in the state at a very low cost, as the idea is not to maximize profit.
“We are fighting the existence of illegal hospitals, and we have had cause to close down two baby factories. In Enugwu Ukwu General Hospital, for instance, five of them from the baby factories were born, and people had already paid for the babies. If it’s a girl, they pay N1.8m, and if it’s a boy, they pay over N2 million.”
“The oxygen plant at Enugwu Ukwu supplies oxygen to all the hospitals in the state, and the hospital has been upgraded with specialists manning all areas.
“The Rehabilitation Center at Nibo is one project that is very important to the people of the state. There are recreational facilities, and the environment is suitable for medical treatment and mental recovery. There is a skills acquisition center where the inmates could learn trades. There is also the Nise Eye Care Center, which the community built and abandoned, and the state government rehabilitated and equipped.
“We have also rehabilitated the Umueri General Hospital, as well as those in Enugwu Ukwu and Ekwulobia. We also rehabilitated Nnobi General Hospital, which was abandoned, and the people are enjoying the facility. Same for General Hospital Awkuzu in the Oyi local government area.”
The Soludo administration has rehabilitated 130 primary healthcare centers, with the ultimate goal of having a functional PHC in all 326 political wards and one general hospital in all 21 LGAs.
Anambra State health facilities include solar lights for uninterrupted power supply.
He added, “Our teaching hospital is now a truly tertiary health institution. Every drug to be used in our health facilities is tested in the state-of-the-art laboratory so that the era of people consuming low-quality and adulterated drugs will be over.
“We started telemedicine, which has taken health care delivery in the state to the next level. We have intensified training in this area to ensure that health workers understand the operation properly.”
“We have recruited 1500 health workers, and we have doubled salaries of our health workers. We are targeting to be the state with the highest number of healthcare workers, with the possibility of even exporting them. This is why there is a need for continuity to enable the people to enjoy what this government has planned for the people.”
