Mrs Soludo's life - changing projects have impacted greatly on most families - Anambra Health Commissioner

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike has said that the various projects initiated by the wife of the governor of the state, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has impacted positively on the lives of most families in the state.

Obidike, who is also the Coordinator of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, an Initiative of the governor's wife, while addressing journalists at the Government House in Awka, listed a number of interventions the state’s First Lady has been implementing since her husband assumed office over three years ago.

He listed key achievements under the Healthy Living initiatives to include appointment as Insecticide Treated Nets, ITN, Ambassador by the Malaria Consortium, resulting in the free distribution of over 3.8 million Insecticide-Treated Nets to households across Anambra.

The provision of the nets is critical protection against malaria, which is the leading cause of death among children and mothers, establishment of Healthy Living clubs in more than 800 primary and secondary schools, as well as fostering a culture of wellness and healthy habits among young people through cooking programmes, quizzes, and competitions that educate families on nutrition and health.

Other projects, Obidike added, include provision of free cervical cancer screening and treatment to thousands of women, offering of free corrective surgeries to children born with cleft lips and palates.

Still projects like the implementation of statewide free vaccination campaigns against rotavirus, measles, and polio, safeguarding the health of the state’s children and distribution of over 14,000 packets of Nonye’s Healthy Living pap to malnourished children in Primary Health Centers, with recovery rates exceeding 50% and introduction of anti-shock garments to prevent maternal deaths during childbirth.

Obidike said: "Her programmes are driven not by headlines, but by the heartbeat of a malnourished child, the silent cry of a young girl lacking sanitary products, the quiet dignity of an elderly woman receiving her first multivitamin, and the hope of youth learning vital skills.

The First Lady’s dedication has positively impacted mothers, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and every community in the state, culminating in her winning the prestigious First Lady Award of the Year in Nigeria for healthcare and child nutrition.

She is making a profound impact through what may appear as small acts of kindness, but performed with enormous love and dedication.

Since inception of the present administration, Her Excellency has consistently prioritized the health and wellbeing of Ndi Anambra, and today the tangible results are manifesting in the lives of the people that reflect measurable and significant impact.

The First Lady’s outreach to orphanages and special homes, exemplify her commitment to the most vulnerable members of society. Her engagement with youths across all 21 LGAs, inspire countless young people to pursue healthy, productive lives.

The Anambra State Skilled Women Training Programme, which empowers women by training them in traditional, male-dominated skills such as solar engineering, paint manufacturing, and Keke mechanics are wonderful innovations. To date, over 6,000 applications have been received, with more than 100 women already trained in the various areas.

Also, pad banks initiative has been established by her in over 350 secondary schools, ensuring that no girl misses class due to menstrual challenges.

Similarly, more than 26,000 elderly citizens have received free multivitamin supplements to promote healthy aging, alongside dignity kits distributed during flooding emergencies.

The Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Initiative has also enrolled over 1,000 persons with disabilities into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusiveness and she has awarded lifetime scholarships to brilliant but indigent children across the state, thereby fostering educational opportunity.

In an effort to promote food security and backyard farming, Mrs. Soludo has donated and distributed over 15,000 packs of hybrid seeds to encourage home gardens."

He noted that it was in recognition of her outstanding contributions that she was conferred a doctorate degree in Public Health and Child Nutrition by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).

According to Obidike,the Healthy Living Schools Garden Competition has further nurtured agricultural innovation among students.

Describing Mrs Soludo as a virtuous and compassionate woman dedicated to improving the lives of Ndi Anambra through the flagship initiative, Obidike said her accomplishments resonate deeply, embodying timeless compassion and dedication that remind Anambra people of the transformative power of genuine humanitarian service.

"For the first time in the state’s history, Her Excellency secured a strategic partnership with the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, unlocking new opportunities for thousands of Ndi Anambra.

Mrs. Nonye Soludo may not wear a habit or walk the streets of Calcutta adorned with expensive jewelry or clothes. Instead, she walks humbly through the markets of Onitsha, the schools of Aguleri, and the homes of Ndi Anambra, establishing her presence through genuine service,”

Her legacy is not written in stone, but in the lives she transforms. In her, we see the making of another Mother Teresa. In her, we see leadership that heals. In her, we see the soul of Anambra.

"Let us celebrate her not only for what she does but for who she is: a mother to the forgotten, a light to the underserved, and a quiet force of transformation. Ndi Anambra, let us stand firm. Let us protect this progress so that Anambra continues to shine as the light of the nation", Obidike stated.