Anambra Primary Healthcare Development Agency receives solar powered cold store from EU-SIGN

Fri, Oct 5, 2018 | By publisher


Health

The European Union Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria, EU-SIGN, has handed over modern solar energy cold store to Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHCDA.

The building housing the cold store was bankrolled by EU-SIGN and sited at Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Joe Akabuike, the commissioner for Health,  said: “the project is a great one, since it concerns children who are Governor Willie Obiano’s main priority.

“Nothing succeeds like success. And Gov. Obiano has become even more successful since winning in all 21LGAs.

“EU-SIGN has built for us a modern cold store for storage of immunisation vaccines for our children and their mothers.

“We are happy at where the project has been sited, where it will have impact. We appeal to our people to make proper use of the facilities.

He added: “we enjoin the LGA to ensure that the facilities are protected from misuse by vandals.

“EU-SIGN also provided a 15 KVA generator and functional borehole for the cold store,” Akabuike said.

The commissioner was represented by John Ndibe, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health.

Ibrahim Yisa, the EU representative in Nigeria/Team leader, said that EU-SIGN projects in Anambra were not one, two or three year projects.

“We are here for provisional handover. After a year from today, we will come back to check if the project is good enough, serving its purpose, before final handover.

“We rehabilitated the Nkpologwu Primary Healthcare Centre, PHC, in 2016. We provided 78 solar Direct Refrigerators to PHCs across Anambra for storage of vaccines.

“We also donated a Ford Ranger Truck in 2017. EU-SIGN has so far spent not less than N271million on Primary Healthcare in Anambra. Anambra tops the chart in EU programmes in Nigeria.

“Currently, EU through World Health Organisation, WHO, is also backing another programme known as `Health Financing’ in Sokoto and Anambra states,” Yisa added.

He, however, appealed to the Transition Committee Chairman, Ayamelum LGA to monitor movement of the project vehicles provided, in order to avoid misuse.

Yisa, then, praised the LGA chairman, noting, that since his arrival, some of the facilities they provided were being properly cared for.

Chioma Ezenyimulu, executive secretary/CEO, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHDA, expressed joy over the building by EU-SIGN at Ayamelum.

“I must say that routine immunisation has never had it so good in the state with all these interventions.

“Not less than 63 healthcare centres were renovated in 2017, three per LGA; 63 tricycle ambulances for conveying pregnant women facilities, where they receive prompt medical attention.

“It is worthy of note that Anambra has remained polio-free for about 10 years now,” she said.

Ezenyimulu said that Ayamelum LGA was one of the LGAs in Anambra designated as hard-to-reach because of its difficult terrain.

“Other hard-to-reach LGAs are Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru, Awka North, Orumba North and Ihiala.

She added: “it is our belief that this ultra modern cold room will help to improve immunisation coverage and serve the-hard-to-reach areas in Ayamelum.

“We urge the community in general and the LGA TC to protect the project from vandals,” she said.

Ezenyimulu, however, thanked EU-SIGN for their intervention; while appreciating other partners like UNICEF, WHO, NPHCDA and Obiano for his untiring efforts at prompt healthcare delivery at the PHC.

Kenneth Okolo, the Transition Committee chairman, thanked Obiano for attracting the EU-SIGN project to the state.

He also expressed his gratitude to Akabuike, for his doggedness over issues of health.

Okolo, however, enjoined workers at Ayamelum to manage the EU-SIGN projects well; while urging the state government to help them to meet other needs of the people.

Igwe Simeon Chidube and his Omasi counterpart, Igwe Benjamin Okeji, traditional rulers of Umumbo, were present at the event.

In a vote of thanks Igwe Chidube praised EU group for sitting the project and thanked the ASPHCDA for effective supervision of the project.

Obiageliaku Umeadi, permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, prayed for God’s continued vision in enabling Obiano to pilot affairs of Anambra and urging God to safeguard the people as they utilise the facilities.

Kenneth U Joel, the contractor, pleaded for security to be provided for the project.

– Oct. 5, 2018 @ 16:45 GMT |

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