THE Anambra State Government has reassured of its commitment toward improving the health system in the state through reforms, targeted at enhanced quality service delivery across hospitals in the state.

Gov. Willie Obiano said this while receiving a team of EU interventions in health system strengthening at the Government House, Awka.

The project, which is part of the EU/Nigeria cooperation, is aimed at improving quality health information for policy decision-making, including robust public health emergency response system.

The governor assured that his administration would be proactive in doing the needful in the healthcare system of the state.

He called for more resources from the EU, World Health Organisation, WHO, and other foreign donors.

While thanking Ndi Anambra for adopting the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, ASHIA, Obiano said the scheme had continued to make life easier.

He noted that people now go to the hospitals to receive services, without paying huge sums for it.

They are expected to settle 10 percent of the total treatment administered to them.

Obiano commended the EU, WHO and state government-backed Healthcare agencies for their efforts, saying that there was need to protect people from diseases and promote better living.

The Governor was represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, during the visit.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Vincent Okpala, noted that the EU delegates were in the state to monitor and access the level of impact recorded by the project.

Okpala also said that they would evaluate its achievements and seek further opportunities in order to strengthen the healthcare system in Anambra.

He said that the team was in the state in 2017 to carry out scooping mission, whereby gaps were identified in the state health system, on which interventions were made.

The commissioner, however, pledged that Anambra would continue to perform better in its health system, especially with the support of the EU and WHO.

Head, Health, Nutrition and Resilience Section of the EU delegation, Counsellor Montserrat Pantaleoni, commended the state’s numerous achievements in the health sector, saying: “Anambra is leading in Nigeria’s health system.’’

She noted that this formed the decision in selecting Anambra as one of the pilot states, along with Sokoto State.

The counsellor pointed at data collection, as an important area of the project.

“Data will be collected at state and federal levels, in order to produce a good picture of the happenings in Nigeria’s health system.

“We are going to the field to review the outcome of the project, which after evaluation, we will identify how the state and EU can further work together,’’ Pantaleoni said.

The Health Adviser, EU delegation to Nigeria, Anthony Ayeke, pledged the team’s willingness to align with the state government initiatives toward progressing its health sector.

“We are here to support government and not to replace or displace government resources, we will complement what government is doing,’’ he said.

– July 9, 2019 @ 19:09 GMT |