By Nnedinma Okeke :
The Anambra State Government through the Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA) Transition Committee Chairman, Mr Felix Ikechi has fulfilled its promise of an infrastructural edifice to aid better healthcare service delivery to Odekpe, Island community.
The Commissioner, State Ministry of Health (SMOH), Dr Afam Obidike said this during commissioning of the Odekpe Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), which was reconstructed by the LGA TC Chairman, Mr Ikechi after 12 years of no functional PHC in the area.

“It could be recalled that the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo visited the Odekpe community two weeks back and one of his promises was a better healthcare system to the people of the community.”
The commissioner assured that the Odekpe Island community was a priority and as such, they would do all they could to ensure that the PHC was fully functional.
“First is the building, infrastructure, and the much needed human resources for health which will soon be in place with the ongoing recruitment of 500 healthcare workers into the Primary Healthcare system.
“We will get people from this community that are qualified and willing to work here, and we want to thank the governor for the opportunity to fill the gaps in PHC human resource for health,” Commissioner said.

He commended the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Anambra West LGA health team for their sacrifices in ensuring that quality healthcare service delivery gets to the grassroots.
“What we hope to achieve in Anambra healthcare system is the connection of the hard to reach areas to ensure that they have access to better healthcare services,” Dr Obidike explained.
He emphasized on community ownership as the community are the best people to protect and safeguard their PHCs for its prosperity.

“We will continue to work with you and we urge you to support the State Government to enable us to serve you better,” he reiterated.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Pharm Chisom Uchem thanked the governor for leading the way by visiting the community two weeks ago and ensuring that the PHC was opened as a matter of urgency.
She noted that the Agency would ensure deployment of healthcare workers in the PHC as the governor has given approval for the recruitment of PHC health workers which is currently ongoing.
The Anambra West TC Chairman, Mr Ikechi while welcoming all to Odekpe in Olumbanasa community of the LGA, expressed gratitude that the event was holding not long after the Governor visited the community.
He noted that the community has been living without medical facility after their PHC was devastated by the 2012 flooding many years ago, and the community generally depended on health services at nearby State: Delta State to access medical care.
“This is a journey we started seven months ago, and today we are seeing the climax of it which brings joy to the community as it will give them the opportunity to benefit from the State Government free Antenatal Care and Delivery services palliative.”
He pleaded that they have considerations of Nurses and Midwives to be posted to the health facility as the building would need workers for optimal functionality.
Present at the event were; the Director Disease Control and Immunization, ASPHCDA- Dr Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi, PHC Director Anambra West Local Government Health Authority (LGHA)- Mr Peter Igwemma, State Health Educator- Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, and State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Uzoamaka Eriken.
Others were, Head DPRS ASPHCDA- Mr Casmir Mabia, CHIPS Coordinator- Mrs Amaka Okoye, and Internal Auditor, ASPHCDA- Mrs Nkoli Anyaegbu.
*Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State