BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State weekend assured that Anambra State would continue to remain polio-free as his government was determined to keep tackling health challenges in the state.

Speaking during polio eradication campaign, Obi maintained that any society that neglected to take care of its children and youth would suffer the consequences in future.

The governor, who expressed happiness over the improvement in health indices of the state, including the recent accreditation of major health institutions, promised that he would not relent.

He also expressed satisfaction with the way Churches have managed funds made available to them for the running of hospitals and the schools handed over to them, adding that government had set aside  N1.2 billion to be given to the Churches to rehabilitate the secondary schools handed over to them. This, he said, would translate to N20 million per secondary school.

Earlier in a broadcast, the governor commended the bodies collaborating with the government in the fight against polio.
His words: “We thank our partners, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, Bill Gates, DFID, USAID, Red Cross, Rotary International, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and others for their contributions.

“We will continue to partner with them in our concerted effort to eradicate polio. Our commitment to achieving the MDGs and making our people healthy and happy is total. Today, again, I wish to reaffirm our resolve”.

The representative of Rotary Club, Rotarian Chika Ekwueme expressed happiness that for five years, Anambra had remained polio-free, which he attributed to the governor’s commitment to the people of the State.

The commissioner for health, Prof Amobi Ilika siad the current immunisation was targeted at two million children.
At the ceremony, Obi donated a brand new ambulance to Regina Ceali Hospital, Awka which was received by the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, who thanked God for what he called the gift of Peter Obi to the state.