The Government of Anambra State through the state Ministry of Health led by Dr Afam Obidike, has commissioned the Comprehensive Health Centre at Enugu Otu Aguleri, in the West Local Government Area of the state.
The health facility which was built through community development efforts pioneered by Machi Pius Igwe led Enugu Otu Progressive Forum EPF, was indeed a prayer answered to entire Aguleri-Otu communities.
The commissioner for health, Dr. Afam Ben Obidike while commissioning the facility on behalf of the Governor encouraged the initiative of EPF and commended the leaders to also key into providing health insurance for the elderly, women that are still giving birth and the sick.
He tasked the community to ensure that they take good care of the facility as well as ensure the health workers posted to them serve the purpose for the government and the people.
On his part,the commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engineer Julius Chukwuemeka who hails from the community is also the National Secretary of Enugu Otu Progressive Forum and had chaired the committee that built the health facility.
He appreciated Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR for his love towards the communities, demonstrated through his appointment as the first commissioner from Enugu-Otu and other projects which Mr. Governor has sited to the area and charged the communities to keep supporting the Soludo administration which he described as an all-inclusive government.
He emphasized on the high mortality rates of pregnant women and children from the three communities, who are predominantly farmers and appealed that state government should consider upgrading the facility to general hospital status to serve the three communities and some parts of Ayamelum local government area.
The leader of Enugu Otu Progressive Forum, Hon Machi Pius Igwe who is also a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Soludo on media while addressing the people lamented that a whole lot of deaths have occurred in the communities because there is no quality healthcare provider in the area.
He stated that,“Transporting a sick person through about 30kilometres of bad road to access medical care has taken many members of communities to their earlier grave.”
He appealed to the communities to take ownership, and ensure they safeguard the facility as well many other government projects in the area.
The Anambra East TC Chairman, Dr Anselm Onuorah quite wowed by efforts of Enugu Otu Progressive Forum and massive turn out of elders, women, youths and leadership organs of the community secured health insurance for 120 vulnerable person in the community.
He commended the community development initiative by EPF and promised to ensure he add whatever value to help the health center give it’s utmost service to the people.
According to Igwes of both Enugu-Otu and Mkpunando communities, Igwe Emmanuel Ejiofor and Igwe Johnson Mbanefo, the health center is strategic as it will serve the three communities of Eziagulu-Otu, Enugu-Otu and Mkpunando.
