By Godfrey Anyasi
Community leaders in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have commended the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, for facilitating a free medical outreach that brought much-needed healthcare services and baby shower kits to rural mothers and children in Amainyima Okpuitumo community.
The outreach, held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Odeligbo Health Centre, was organized in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health and the Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Foundation (BERWO), a pet project of Her Excellency, the wife of the Governor.
Representing the Speaker at the event, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Engagement, Hon. Paulinus Nwanchor, said the outreach fulfilled one of Mr. Speaker’s major campaign promises — to improve healthcare access for rural communities.
“We know our people have long yearned for accessible healthcare. That is why we made this initiative a priority. Today, we’re not just making promises; we’re delivering results,” Hon. Nwanchor said.
He added that the initiative was inspired by the achievements of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, whose administration’s Charter of Needs policy continues to impact lives across the state.
The event featured free medical checkups, distribution of Baby Shower kits to pregnant and nursing mothers, and health talks delivered by trained personnel from the Ministry of Health.
Speaking at the event, Ikechukwu Oduma, a medical expert who led the health team, revealed that the most common condition recorded was hypertension, which many beneficiaries were unaware of.
“Hypertension is a silent killer. Many people here didn’t know they had it. Even after being placed on drugs, there is a need for consistent follow-up and blood pressure monitoring,” Oduma noted, calling on the media to support health sensitization campaigns.
Other illnesses treated during the outreach included malaria and diarrhea, particularly among children.
Reacting to the development, a prominent APC chieftain in Ikwo LGA, Hon. Sunday Bright Ifere, praised the Speaker for keeping to his word and delivering on a key promise.
“This was one of the things Mr. Speaker promised during his campaign — that a vote for him was a vote for better healthcare. Today, we’re seeing that fulfilled,” he said.
Hon. Ifere also urged the Speaker to channel similar attention to road rehabilitation, pointing out that Amainyima and surrounding communities still suffer poor road infrastructure.
Mrs. Ngozi Alo, Assistant Immunization Officer and Desk Officer of the Baby Shower Team, disclosed that her team sensitized both pregnant women and the elderly on prenatal care and hypertension management.
She also called for more public-private partnerships to scale the outreach.
“We need more support. A bus for our team will go a long way to help us reach more communities with this life-saving programme. Government can’t do it alone — individuals and NGOs must also play their part,” she said.
Hon. Nwanchor emphasized that Speaker Odunwa’s outreach, in partnership with BERWO Foundation and the Ministry of Health, is proof that governance can be both impactful and inclusive.
“This is what the people need — practical programmes that touch lives. Mr. Speaker remains committed to ensuring that no rural community is left behind,” he added.
The outreach concluded with the distribution of Baby Shower packs, community engagement sessions, and a group photograph with grateful beneficiaries.