The Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State, Ocho Obodoeze, has pledged to strengthen healthcare delivery across the 17 local government areas of the state if elected as the Governor during the forthcoming general elections.
Obodoeze made the pledge on Saturday while speaking at Awgu town during the grand unveiling of a free life support ambulance service, provided by Obi Ebere Chukwu Awgu Health Mission Foundation Community, with the support of an Austrian non-governmental organisation, “Barmherzigkeit für”, some individuals in Austria and MIVA Austria.
The ambulance service is designed to provide rapid emergency response and safe transportation for critically ill patients, accident victims, and pregnant women experiencing obstetric emergencies, and individuals with other life threatening medical conditions within the Greater Awgu community.
He pledged support for the Founder and Coordinator of the Foundation, Rev. Fr. Amobichukwu Kingsley Ude and his team for the initiative aimed at saving lives at the grassroots, noting that the government alone cannot ensure affordable healthcare delivery for all citizens, hence the need for individual, donor and corporate support, especially at the grassroots level.
He said, “Health sector is a very critical sector in the state. The state cannot make progress without a healthy citizenry. Health is wealth.
“However, the responsibility for healthcare is not for government alone. It is for everybody, including individuals, private sector, non-governmental organisations, donor agencies and other local and international partners.
“If elected, an ADC government under my leadership, will work with organisations like Obi Ebere Chukwu Awgu Health Mission Foundation Community to sustain lives and bring development closer to our people.”
Speaking further, Obodoeze pledged to collaborate with all critical stakeholders not only to strengthen the health sector, but other critical sectors across Enugu State, such as security education, transport, agriculture, housing and urban development, tourism, water and sanitation, among others.
Earlier, Rev. Fr. Ude explained that the community free life support ambulance services advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3- Good Health and Well-being- by improving access to quality emergency medical services and reducing preventable deaths through timely emergency response and life-saving interventions.
While applauding Obodoeze’s contributions to corporate development and community development, the cleric said the foundation was honoured by his presence and historic support at the unveiling, as a leading corporate executive, community development advocate and the ADC governorship candidate in Enugu State.
(The Whistler)
