Few weeks after Governor Peter Obi presented cheques of 1.5billion Naira and 2 billion Naira respectively for the continued rehabilitation of schools returned to the Churches and other public schools, he again released the sum of 3 Billion Naira to selected mission and Government-owned hospitals. In a ceremony to mark the release of the money tagged “Accelerating the Achievement of Health-Related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Anambra State” at the Women Development Centre, Awka, yesterday, the Governor said that those that will benefit from the money, including Our Lady of Lourde’s Hospital, Ihiala (N200m); Iyienu, Ogidi (N200m); Holy Rosary, Onitsha (N150m); St. Joseph, Adazi-Nnukwu (N200m); Amichi Anglican Diocesan Hospital (N100m), renovation of 11 selected General Hospitals (N400m), building of 11 Rural Maternity/ Child Health Centres (N330m) among others had already submitted plan of action on how the money would be spent. He said the Government was encouraged by how these institutions utilized the money they were given in the past. He said the money would assist some of them to secure accreditation and strengthened them to render more quality services to the people of the State. Obi who said his Government had saved 40 billion Naira for the on-going final push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, said he was confident that the State would achieve the desired results. He thanked the Church for the fruitful partnership with the State, which he insisted, would help the State. Elaborating on the final push, he said each school must have teachers in core subjects and will be trained in any part of the world. He said in health related areas that government would spend about 6 billion Naira and 20 billion on education. As part of the measures put in place, the Governor said that the 250 thousand grant-in-aid to 51 hospitals have been increased to 500 thousand Naira. He assured that all the money will be received by 31st of October. Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor described the achievements of Anambra State in health as legendary. He said that though the commitment of Governor Obi, that Anambra had remained polio-free in the last six years. He disclosed that the government has recruited 60 qualified health workers at the Anambra State Teaching Hospital, which houses the quality control Unit; Ultra Modern Chest Clinic with Gym expert machine (the only one in the South-East for tuberculosis.) The State, according to him, also has functional Kidney Centre, with dialysis machines at the Onitsha General Hospital, courtesy of the Governor Obi. The Commissioner who disclosed that accreditation of health institutions were in phases, said the Governor had provided enough funds for the next phase of the accreditation of the Teaching Hospital. In their own speeches, the Commissioner for Planning, Prof. Chinyere Okuna and her local government counterpart, Mrs. Azuka Enemuo commended the Governor for his commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals though relentless efforts. In his speech, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke said that Peter Obi had laid the foundations of an Anambra State that would become a pacesetter in Nigeria. Joining him, the Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Most Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor said that any person who said that Obi had not worked or was not working is a blatant liar. He said that every Anambrarians owe it as a duty to join hands in electing somebody as good as him.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:10:56 +0000