Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Anambra State Government has announced plans to make fibroid surgeries more affordable in government-owned hospitals following the success of its free surgical intervention programme for women across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, disclosed this while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
According to the Commissioner, the decision was informed by the overwhelming response to the state’s free fibroid surgery initiative, which benefited about 60 women who were unable to afford treatment in private hospitals, where the procedure can cost as much as ₦1.5 million.
The commissioner added that the programme attracted far more beneficiaries than expected, with over 150 women registering despite an initial target of 66 patients.
He said the ministry’s expanded specialist healthcare interventions also included more than 70 free cataract surgeries at the Anambra State Eye Care Centre and over 100 free hernia surgeries, both exceeding their original targets.
“Many of the beneficiaries had endured years of excessive menstrual bleeding and other complications associated with fibroids, while some required blood transfusions before undergoing surgery because of severe anaemia,” Obidike revealed.
He attributed the success of the programme to the ongoing transformation of the state’s healthcare system, including the upgrading of general hospitals and the recruitment of specialist consultants, particularly gynaecologists, across public health facilities.
“Government hospitals, including General Hospital, Okpoko, now have the capacity to perform specialised procedures that were previously unavailable in many public facilities. The Okpoko hospital alone successfully carried out at least 15 fibroid surgeries within one week.
“Also, the state government has ended the issue of local governments without a general hospital, and as we speak, the six local governments that hitherto had no general hospitals before we came, now have such facilities, taking care of the health needs of the people at the hinterlands,” he noted.
Obidike urged residents to enrol in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme to enjoy affordable healthcare services, stressing that the Soludo administration remains committed to saving lives by making quality healthcare accessible rather than prioritising profit.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Noble Igwe, commended the Ministry of Health for its efforts and urged it to sustain the delivery of quality, affordable healthcare services across the state.
