The Anambra State Government has reported a significant achievement in its healthcare sector, recording 102,643 deliveries and 343 Cesarean Sections in just 18 months since the implementation of its free antenatal care and delivery policy.
The State Commissioner for Health Afam Obidike, made this announcement in Awka on Friday, highlighting the remarkable progress made since Governor Chukwuma Soludo launched the initiative on September 5, 2023, aimed at providing free healthcare services for expectant mothers during the remainder of his administration.
Obidike emphasized that the state’s healthcare investments were instrumental in improving access to quality services for residents. He proudly stated that Anambra is now one of the states with the lowest maternal mortality rates, with expectant mothers from other states even traveling to Anambra to register for antenatal care.
“Anambra is now one of the states with the lowest maternal mortality rates. Pregnant women from other states even come to register here,” he said.
To further support the healthcare system, the state government has recruited over 1,000 health workers, constructed new hospitals, and upgraded existing ones. These facilities have been equipped to provide uninterrupted access to affordable healthcare. As part of its efforts to ensure that medical staff are well-compensated, the state is offering monthly salaries of N500,000 for consultants, nearly N250,000 for doctors, and over N100,000 for nurses.
Additionally, the state has made strides in human capital development. The government recruited 8,115 teachers, upgraded public schools, and launched a youth empowerment program, ‘One Youth, Two Skills,’ aimed at equipping young people with vocational skills.
Obidike also noted that Governor Soludo’s administration had hired more than 9,000 workers, who will contribute to the state’s budget until they retire, underlining that no previous government in the state’s history has invested in human capital development as sustainably as this one.
Governor Soludo had introduced the free antenatal care and delivery policy as part of his administration’s efforts to alleviate the economic challenges faced by residents. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare at the grassroots level as a priority of his administration.
