Anambra Health Commissioner Draws The Curtain, As He List His Achievements.
It was indeed an emotional day for the outgoing Anambra State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, as he ended his journey as a Health Commissioner in the State.
Presenting his valedictory speech, yesterday, Monday, 17th January, 2019, at the Anambra State Executive Council, the Commissioner thanked the Governor for giving him the opportunity to serve in his cabinet for close to Six (6) years, while wishing his successor, Dr. Vincent Okpala, a successful stay in office.
Speaking about the giant strides made in the Health sector during his time, he recalled how Six (6) Faculties in the State School of Health Technology, Obosi were accredited; Re-accreditation of School of Nursing and Midwifery Nkpor; Accreditation of 4th MBBS and 5th MBBS and graduation of the first set of medical students after 10 years of being in medical school; Accreditation and commencement of Residency training in Community Medicine, Surgery, O& G and Paediatrics at COOUTH, Awka; Re-accreditation of General Hospital Onitsha for houseman-ship for newly graduated Doctors.
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On Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) he said, “The Ministry of Health drafted the bill which was passed into law in 2014. The Board was inaugurated in 2015. The implementation rose from 7% in 2014 to 100% today”
Speaking further, he spoke about the achievements recorded in Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), he said, “The agency is now fully functional and has captured more than 30,000 lives”
Continuing he said, “The accomplishment of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and the inauguration and implementation of ASHIA have put Anambra state among the 13 states of the Federation that are qualified for Basic Health Care Provision Fund (1% consolidated revenue (1,000,000,000 annually for development of Primary Healthcare Centres and ASHIA), Best in immunization in the South East for the past 5years and one of the best in the country in 2017”
On other achievement recorded during his tenure, he spoke about he Biggest Oxygen Gas Production plant in Nigeria which is about to be launched in the state, the Keke Ambulance Innovation and provision of Boat Ambulance for riverine communities, the recertification of Health Institutions and closing down of Quacks, training and recertification of Morticians, public private partnership in Hospital management, ongoing upgrading of health Institutions in the state and also the reforms carried out in the area of traditional Medicine, Food Hygiene Initiatives, Paramedics and Drug Control.
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He appreciated in a special way the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr. Willie M. Obiano, whose openness, objectivity and simplicity stands him out. He also thanked the Governor’s wife Osodieme and the members of the State Executive Council for the team spirit and the understanding.
He however described his successor, Dr. Vincent Okpala, as a vibrant and highly cerebral young man, full of ideas, who he said was equal to the task.
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