|By Emmanuel Chigbata
AWKA — The Anambra State Government is to make fibroid surgery more affordable in government-owned hospitals as part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare 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.
Obidike said the decision followed the successful completion of free fibroid surgeries for about 60 women who could not afford treatment in private hospitals, where the procedure could cost up to N1.5 million.
He said many of the beneficiaries had lived with severe monthly bleeding and other complications for years, while some required blood transfusions before surgery because of dangerously low blood levels.
According to the commissioner, the intervention was made possible by the upgrade of general hospitals approved by the state House of Assembly and the recruitment of specialist consultants, including gynaecologists, across government health facilities.
Obidike said government hospitals, including General Hospital, Okpoko, now have the capacity to perform specialist procedures that were previously unavailable.
He disclosed that at least 15 fibroid surgeries were successfully performed at the hospital within one week, while more than 150 women registered for the programme despite an initial target of 66 patients.
Beyond fibroid treatment, the commissioner said the ministry had also conducted more than 70 free cataract surgeries at the Anambra State Eye Care Centre and over 100 free hernia surgeries, exceeding the initial targets.
He urged residents to enrol in the state health insurance scheme to access affordable healthcare services, stressing that the government’s priority was to save lives rather than maximise profit.
“Our priority is to save lives and ensure that residents can access quality healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship,” Obidike said.
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Noble Igwe, commended the Ministry of Health for its interventions and urged it to sustain the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services across the state.
The committee also cleared the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
