Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, human capital development, and social welfare, describing recent achievements as part of a broader vision to transform the state into a liveable and prosperous homeland.
In an interview with Arise News on Tuesday, Soludo addressed the state’s recent recognition in primary healthcare, ongoing reforms, and the administration’s efforts to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, while also responding to concerns about pensions and wage improvements.
He described the recognition as a motivation for his administration to continue building on its foundation.
“That’s an encouragement for us to get up the block because we are just only beginning and we still have a very long journey ahead of us.
“But we have put in the foundation in place, and I think it’s beginning to show up, but we still have a huge agenda in the area of human capital generally, education, and lifting the vulnerable because of the forecast. We are leaving no one behind,” Soludo stated.
On the quality of service delivery under his administration, Soludo explained how health reforms are aligned with his broader vision for Anambra State.
He said, “We got to put in the issue of primary health or our reforms in the health sector within a broader context of our vision to build a liveable and prosperous homeland, a mega city where people would live, invest, work, learn, relax, and enjoy.
“For you to build all of that, we are hitting reforms in five major pillars: the security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, human capital and social agenda, being the governance infrastructure and the environment, towards having a planned, regenerated, and sustainable environment.”
Specifically addressing healthcare, Soludo outlined the state’s goals for both primary and secondary levels of care.
“In the area of health, we want to ensure each of our local governments has at least one world-class general hospital—that’s at the secondary level—and the 326 electoral wards we have, each of them to have very well-equipped functional infrastructure in terms of water, electricity, basic operating equipment, and well-trained personnel.”
He added, “We just built 5 new general hospitals in the local government that never had any. Coincidentally, all the 5 hospitals are in the north senatorial zone, and I’m from the south, but my immediate predecessor comes from the north. We are just focusing on the areas of need.”
Responding to the delay in reviewing pensions, amidst an ultimatum set for February 2025, Soludo noted his administration’s efforts towards wage and pension improvements.
He explained, “This year we just had minimum wage conversation. I don’t know how many states where the government had paid minimum wage and also add something for the pensioners.”
The Governor also underscored the role of his political party, APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance), in the nation’s political landscape. “APGA is the foremost first political party in Nigeria to be registered as a progressive party in 2022,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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