By Anthony Eri
… Addresses boarder Challenges
… Receives COOUTH Resident Doctors
The Anambra Governor’s Wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo on Friday, emphasized the critical role of medical practitioners in society and outlined the state’s health sector advancements under Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
Mrs Soludo highlighted the Soludo’s Health Reforms when she received the delegation from the Association of Resident Doctors at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia.
During the meeting, Mrs. Soludo described doctors as “lifesavers” who are often “seen as gods” due to their life-preserving profession. She highlighted the governor’s health sector achievements over the past three years, including the establishment of functional Primary Health Centres across all 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), free antenatal and delivery services, and the recruitment of nurses and doctors to bolster healthcare delivery.
Addressing broader challenges, Mrs. Soludo revealed that all Nigerian governors except Prof. Soludo accepted an international loan offer due to “unfavorable conditions.” She defended her husband’s decision, stating, “Mr. Governor is not the usual Nigerian politician! There is a reason God made him Governor of this state, and that reason must be fulfilled.”
On the rising “japa syndrome” (brain drain) among healthcare workers, Mrs. Soludo acknowledged the allure of higher salaries abroad but urged doctors to consider practicing in Nigeria. Drawing from her experience living in the UK, she noted that while foreign systems may offer better pay, heavy taxation and grueling workloads offset the benefits. “If [a doctor] is paid £10,000 [in the UK], the system will take everything. For me, I think it’s better practicing in Nigeria,” she argued, pledging that the governor would review payment structures to retain talent.
Mrs. Soludo also promoted her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo initiative, urging doctors to educate patients on regular water intake, natural diets, avoiding sugary drinks, and maintaining backyard gardens. Recalling her time in the UK, she shared an anecdote: “When my husband was a visiting professor at Cambridge University in 1996, I’d visit hospitals and wait hours only to be told, ‘Drink water.’ I’d get frustrated, but today, I appreciate that advice deeply.”
Dr. Okwummuo Joy, President of COOUTH’s Resident Doctors, praised the Soludo administration for its “greatly felt” impact compared to predecessors, noting that prior governments only acted “toward the end of their tenure or second term.” She specifically thanked the governor for approving full payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in 2024 after years of 50% disbursements.
Dr. Joy also commended Mrs. Soludo’s health advocacy, including free cervical screenings, exclusive breastfeeding campaigns, and the Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Pap program for malnourished children. She assured the Governor’s Wife of the association’s “full support” for ongoing health initiatives.
The meeting concluded with mutual commitments to strengthen healthcare systems and prioritize public health education in Anambra State.
