Anambra state To Increase Health Sector Investment To Achieve SDG Targets

Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo has assured that the present administration will continue to invest massively in the health sector to make it globally competitive.

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Mrs Soludo stated this while reacting to the latest national health rating which ranked Anambra State second among states with the least figures of Under-5 mortality in Nigeria.

The rating which was released by UNICEF and BudgIT Nigeria, placed Anambra’s Under-5 mortality rate at 22 per every one thousand births, just a few points behind Lagos State who occupies the first position.

Reacting to the review in a statement released in Awka, Mrs Soludo said that the position reflects her husband’s administration’s deliberate investment in the state’s health sector with eyes on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 target.

She noted that, “Anambra’s health sector has received significant boost in the nineteen months of the present administration, with special trainings for health workers on tackling birth emergencies and dealing with neonatal cases.”

The governor’s wife explained that the government has also taken crucial steps to address the primary health care problems including making sure that all the primary health care centres, especially those in the rural areas, are working optimally.

Mrs Soludo also pointed out that the introduction of the telemedicine model, emergency ambulance system, recruitment of more professionals into the state’s health workforce, the systematic distribution of over three million insecticide treated nets and partnerships with global development partners, have birthed massive results in the drive to reform the state’s health sector.

She restated that the recent distribution of anti-shock garments to general hospitals and mission-owned health facilities, was also aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rate especially in rural hospitals, and explained that she will continue to provide support to ensure that Anambra’s health sector takes the apex spot in the next ranking.

The Governor’s wife further explained that other critical sectors are already receiving reformative touches, while the state government has opened up every development channel for each sector to competitively succeed, for the overall good of the citizenry.