Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state presented cheques worth Two hundred and eighty-eight million, five hundred thousand naira (N288,500,000) to faith-based healthcare facilities in the state.
Obiano made the presentation at Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka, on Wednesday.
There are fifty-nine recognized faith-based health facilities across the three senatorial zones and denominations.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Catholic faith has forty-two (42) recognized hospitals, Anglicans have 26, while Pentecostals have 1 recognized hospital in the state.
While Catholic healthcare facilities got the total sum of one hundred and ninety-seven million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira, healthcare facilities managed by the Anglican faith were presented with a cheque worth sixty-one million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N61,250,000) while the Pentecostal faith health facilities managed by the Pentecostals were presented with a cheque worth thirty million naira(N30,000,000).
Making the presentation, the governor said that since inception, his administration has given aid to faith-based facilities in the state to the tune of two billion, one hundred and seventy-four thousand naira (N2,000,174,000).
While explaining that his administration partner with a faith-based organisation in order to carry everybody along, Obiano said that from the advent of this administration, health has been one of its fourteen enablers which he said has helped to achieve the set goals in the sector.
He highlighted various advancements in the Health Sector especially primary healthcare delivery which includes the provision of four hundred and sixty-eight (468) Keke ambulances, certifications of herbalists to determine who should practice and who should not, accreditation of medical school of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and repositioning of Schools of Nursing in the state, among others.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala said the governor invited the leaders of the facilities because he is a believer in the positive role of the church in healthcare delivery.
While recounting the many achievements of the present administration in healthcare delivery in the state, which he said are in line with the state’s vision and mission statements, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commissioner enumerated the healthcare infrastructure put in place by the Governor, stressing that faith-based health facilities have been very supportive of the state government’s efforts in the sector.
Responding, the State Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Moses Ezedebogo, Archdeacon Cathedral Deanery, Venerable Samuel Okonkwo, who represented Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim and Chancellor of Awka Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Francis Chidume, appreciated the state government for the aid, pledging to make judicious use of the funds.
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