The
governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has commissioned an
ultra-modern clinic and a corporate office for Donor Agencies, working
in Anambra State.
Inaugurating
the two facilities located in the premises of the Government House in
Awka, Wednesday, Governor Obiano expressed satisfaction with the
construction of the clinic and assured that the state would build more
of such facilities to ensure a robust intervention in the healthcare
sector.
He
recalled that his administration had flagged off the re-modernization
of Onitsha General Hospital which is the oldest hospital in the State,
noting that when completed, it would be one of the best in the country
capable of stemming the tide of medical tourism to Germany and India.
The
governor added that apart from Onitsha General Hospital which serves
the interest of people at Anambra North zone, other zones like Anambra
Central and Anambra South would have theirs at Ekwulobia General
Hospital and Enugwu-ukwu General Hospital respectively.
In
addition to the provision of Flying Boats and Water Ambulance to serve
the needs of the riverine areas, the governor promised to provide a
Helicopter Landing Pad for Onitsha, and other areas, with Air Ambulance
to give quick emergency medical attention in order to save lives.
He
stated that Health being one of the Enablers of development, he
was committed to laying a sound foundation in the health sector as his
administration did in security, noting that his administration had
supported Catholic and Anglican mission schools in addition to
renovating 570 primary schools since the inception of the APGA
government in the State.
Also
speaking at the inauguration of the Donor Agencies Office, Governor
Obiano expressed happiness with the interventions from what he called
‘development partners,’ stressing that the number of donor agencies has
increased from 15 at the inception of his administration to 20 while
contribution from the Donor Agencies have risen from N12 billion in 2014
to N15 billion in the 2015 budget.
Earlier,
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Professor Solomon
Chukwulobelu had expressed happiness with the commencement and
completion of the Donor Agency Office, noting that it was a big relief
that the governor deemed it fit to set up an operational arm to
complement the activities of his Ministry.
The
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Donor Agencies, Hon. Ernest
Adinweruka, pointed out that since the inauguration of the Obiano
administration, the State has witnessed a tremendous positive change
and is marching to greater height especially in the areas of security,
agriculture, economic development, housing and good governance.
Hon.
Adinweruka commended the management of Sky Bank Plc for constructing
the world-class building free of charge and Fidelity for equipping the
Information Technology, assuring that the team would achieve and try to
surpass its target in 2015 budget.
Also
speaking, the MD Sky Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo stated that the Bank
donated the building to function as a befitting office to the Donor
Agencies in the State as part of its effort to identify with the
government, adding that the existence of the office would provide the
conducive environment that would position them as a serious entity to
carry out its function and attract meaningful benefactors to donate to
the State’s noble goals.
Mr.
Oguntayo advised that, given the dwindling revenue at the centre
occasioned by the state of the global oil market, the Bank was
prepared to partner with the State government and assist it to
tremendously improve its internally-generated revenue as an alternative
using its robust IGR software/package as a lead bank in the IGR
business.
