By Stanley Nwako
The ongoing Anambra State Laboratory Optimization Project is improving access to affordable and quality diagnostic services for residents across the state through a public private partnership between the Anambra State Ministry of Health and Bloom Public Health Initiative.
The Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, stated this during the laboratory outreach at General Hospital Okpoko while monitoring activities at the facility.
Dr. Uchebo explained that the initiative was designed to make laboratory investigations cheaper and more accessible, especially for people in low income communities.
She said the project is currently being implemented in selected general hospitals across the state, offering services such as blood pressure checks, weight measurement, blood sugar testing, HIV screening, Hepatitis B and C tests, Full Blood Count and other essential laboratory investigations at highly subsidised rates.
According to the Permanent Secretary, patients who test positive for any health condition are counselled and referred for further medical evaluation and treatment to ensure they receive appropriate care.
She noted that the initiative has significantly reduced the cost of laboratory services, explaining that a Full Blood Count test, which usually costs between ₦8,000 and ₦10,000 in many private laboratories, is available under the project for only ₦2,000, making quality healthcare more affordable for residents.
Dr. Uchebo disclosed that the programme is currently running in selected facilities, including General Hospital Okpoko, and will be extended to General Hospital Anaku and General Hospital Oroma Etiti to enable more communities benefit from affordable laboratory services.
She thanked Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the initiative and providing the enabling environment for improved healthcare delivery across Anambra State.
The Permanent Secretary explained that Bloom Public Health Initiative supplies the laboratory equipment and reagents at subsidised rates, making it possible to provide quality diagnostic services at affordable prices through the partnership with the Anambra State Ministry of Health.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Ekezie Chijioke, expressed appreciation to Governor Soludo for bringing the initiative to Okpoko.
“I thank Governor Soludo for this wonderful gesture. He has done a great job for the people of Okpoko by bringing this programme to our community. It has made quality healthcare more accessible to us, and we are grateful,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Nkiru Ezebuilo, also thanked the governor for introducing the initiative to the community.
“I thank the governor for bringing this outreach to our community. I pray he continues with programmes like this because they are helping ordinary people. We did not have this kind of hospital before, but today we have access to quality healthcare. I also appreciate him for constructing good roads in our community. Governor Soludo’s administration has been good to us,” she said.
Stanley Nwako is of the Ministry of Health, Anambra State
