A frontline governorship aspirant in the Anambra State November 6 guber polls, Chief Rommy Okoli has promised to make free antenatal available to pregnant women in the state.
Chief Okoli who is running on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) made this promise during an inspection tour of Life Gate Specialist Hospital Ltd. Ukpor which opened to patients on Tuesday.
The APGA governorship aspirant said further that he would set up twenty one Referral Clinics in the twenty one local government areas of the state and hand them over to missions which according to him have done so well in the management of the schools returned to them by the government.
The guber aspirant popularly known as the Messenger said that the purpose of having the referral clinics across the state is to take health care delivery closer to the people at the rural areas.
He also expressed his preparedness to employ qualified medical doctors, nurses and other professionals in the health sector for all the General Hospitals in the state. “People will not have to leave Ogbaru for Nnewi to get Medicare. Under my watch we will make sure that quality health care is readily available to Ndi Anambra. Functional ambulances would be provided for the hospitals so that during emergency, patients can quickly be evacuated. Power supply will be available to the hospitals 24/7.” He said.
Chief Okoli also promised to acredit genuine drug manufacturers for the purpose of supplying drugs to government owned hospitals so that patients will not be running to the market to procure drugs.
“In as much as the responsibility of providing quality health care delivery to the people cannot be left for the government alone to shoulder, but the truth is that it is the responsibility of the government to play a pivotal role in the health sector.
“The facilities at Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital need improvement, there is so much pressure on Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi. It is sometimes difficult for qualified medical students to get placement for their Housemanship and internship in the two hospitals because of pressure.” The Messenger noted.
Asked to comment on the gigantic Life Gate Hospital he inspected at Ukpor, Chief Rommy Okoli commeneded the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Alfred Chidozie Egwuatu for coming home to positively impact his people.
The governorship aspirant said that he was amazed at what an individual is able to put in place at the Life Gate Hospital noting that more of this kind of interventions are really needed in the rural areas.
“I doubt if any private hospital in the state can boast of the facilities we have just seen at Life Gate Specialist Hospital Ltd. Ukpor, under my watch more of such persons would be encouraged to invest at home.” He said.
Chief Okoli urged the well meaning and affluent Ndi Anambra to borrow a leaf from the Obstetrician/Gynaecologist who has made huge investment in his Ukpor community through the establishment of Life Gate Specialist Hospital Ltd.