By Obianuju Isima
The administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has continued to advance women’s healthcare and welfare in Anambra State through a combination of health reforms, maternal care programmes, menstrual hygiene campaigns, and women-focused empowerment initiatives.
Central to these efforts is the “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo” initiative championed by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo. The programme has continued to promote preventive healthcare, maternal wellbeing, hygiene, nutrition, and women empowerment across communities in the state.
As part of efforts to improve menstrual hygiene and support girls’ education, the state government established sanitary pad banks in hundreds of secondary schools across Anambra State. The initiative is designed to ensure that schoolgirls have access to sanitary products during menstruation and to reduce absenteeism linked to menstrual challenges.
The administration has also distributed thousands of sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the state while intensifying campaigns against menstrual stigma and promoting menstrual health education among adolescents.
In the area of maternal healthcare, the Soludo administration introduced free antenatal and delivery services for pregnant women, alongside the provision of routine antenatal drugs aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
To strengthen healthcare delivery, the government embarked on the upgrade of primary healthcare centres and the construction of new general hospitals to improve access to quality healthcare services for women and families.
The administration also recruited doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health workers to strengthen manpower and improve maternal and reproductive healthcare services across the state.
Under the Healthy Living initiative, the government has sustained campaigns on preventive healthcare, nutrition awareness, physical fitness, and maternal and child healthcare education.
In addition, women empowerment and skills acquisition programmes have been introduced to improve women’s economic wellbeing and encourage self-reliance among women in the state.
The Soludo administration has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality, women empowerment, improved healthcare access, and the protection of women’s rights in Anambra State.
Isima is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
