By Godfrey Eze
It was a huge turnout at Abina Health Centre on Saturday, 14th June, 2025, as the good people of Abina Community in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State came out en masse to benefit from the health outreach programme sponsored by the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa.
The event, held in partnership with Her Excellency’s foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Foundation (BERWO), saw medical personnel distribute medical kits to mothers and children in the ward.
This activity is part of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Barr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s practical and full implementation of the People’s Charter of Needs principle as enunciated by his administration.
During the programme, the people of the community praised the Speaker for the initiative, saying it had gone a long way to show his concern for his constituency, just as he promised during his campaign that a vote for him was a vote for good health.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Theophilus Igwe, welcomed members of the public to the programme and assured them that the State Government was concerned about their health needs, which led to the initiative.
He disclosed that the programme was aimed at providing pregnant women with Mama Kits and safe delivery education, appreciating mothers who had completed immunization of their children within the first year after birth, offering free health screening for adults with BP, glucose, and HIV-related challenges, providing treatment for minor illnesses, including referrals where necessary.
Adding that Mr. Speaker is supporting the programme based on the numerous achievements of His Excellency in the health sector, and to ensure that most rural dwellers enjoy the sound health that is due to them.
Mr. Theophilus revealed, “This is one of the ways Mr. Speaker is reaching out to the society for what they did for him during the 2023 general election.”
He further stated that, “In the course of the exercise, more than four hundred (400) people had been attended to, including those that had been placed on admission due to critical health challenges.” He noted that “the people are happy because they are not charged a penny for the services received. This is because the Speaker deemed it necessary to take the programme to them in a bid to reduce the high rate of mortality, as well as relieve the financial burden on some people seeking good health.” He stressed the need for everyone in the community, including the less privileged, to be attended to.
He added that Mr. Speaker has already taken this medical exercise to nine (9) wards, with only Ndufu Amagu Ward 1 remaining to complete Ikwo South Constituency, after which he will map out modalities to cover the entire Ikwo LGA.
He also confirmed that no challenge was recorded during the exercise, as the people responded positively by attending the programme. He used the opportunity to appeal to the people to continue supporting the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Barr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, because it was through his support that the programme was made possible. He emphasized that continued support for the Governor is vital.
The Desk Officer of the Baby Shower Team and Assistant Immunization Officer, Mrs. Ngozi Alo, stated that her team was able to sensitize both pregnant and nursing mothers on how to take care of themselves before and after delivery. She also noted that the team engaged with the elderly on how to manage and control rising blood pressure.
However, she stressed the need for more sensitization at the grassroots level, so that people can better understand the causes of high blood pressure, how to combat it, and how to reduce it.
She called on the general public to collaborate with the BERWO Foundation by supporting the Baby Shower Initiative Programme, noting that the responsibility should not be left to the government alone. Individuals, she said, can also key into the programme, especially as the team is currently in need of a bus to aid mobility across the state and enhance programme sensitization.
Highlights of the Event Include distribution of Baby Shower packs to pregnant and nursing mothers