…Photo: Chief Willie Obiano, Executive Governor, Anambra State and his wife, Chief Mrs Ebele Obiano, at a ceremony at the General Hospital Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, to mark the National Immunization Day …
The Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has declared that his administration would expand the scope of the immunization programme in his state to cover rural communities and remote villages. Governor Obiano who spoke while flagging off the April 2014 National Immunization Plus Days at the General Hospital Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, said effective healthcare delivery was critical to his administration’s policy thrust on Health.
According to him, rural roads would be reconstructed and speed boats provided to enable World Health Organization team and other health personnel access to the children in remote locations to ensure a comprehensive coverage of the state.
He assured that his government would build on the foundations of his predecessor that enabled the state to win first prize twice on immunization and enjoined parents to take advantage of the exercise to protect their children against killer diseases.
The governor explained that his administration would in addition to other things provide necessary equipment facilities and drugs in hospitals, build Doctor’s quarters to ensure patients receive twenty-four hours medicare, promote training and retraining of Doctors and other health personnel as well as support medical students
Governor Obiano also directed the Commissioner for Health to calculate and make available to his office the minimum requirements to equip a standard General Hospital.
Speaking after inspecting facilities at General Hospital Umeri, the Governor regretted that the facility had not been functional over the years in spite of being the only major hospital that serves the entire zone.
Meanwhile, traders whose stalls were consumed in the early morning fire that razed parts of the Ogboji Ose –Okwodo Market over the weekend in Ontisha can now heave a sigh of relief as the Anambra State Government has undertaken to rebuild and modernize the market
This was announced when Governor Obiano visited the scene of the fire disaster to commiserate with the victims, said a committee would also be set up to investigate the course of the inferno and the extent of damage done by the fire.
The governor said his visit was to ascertain first-hand the degree of destruction wrecked by the fire and to say a few words of sympathy to the traders who had lost their wares in the dawn blaze.
The governor also warned that indiscriminate building of structures in the market was unacceptable to the state government and assured of his administration’s resolve to build a modern market with all the necessary facilities and amenities to meet the demands of the day and enough open space to enhance easy access and response to emergencies.
Said he; “I am here to see what happened, first-hand. I want to reassure you that I have set up a team to find out the actual cause of the fire outbreak. We shall rebuild this market to meet the demands of the time.”
The Governor urged the traders to maintain law and order as well as join hands with the state government to turn around the state.