The Anambra State Government has announced plans to make fibroid surgeries more affordable in government-owned hospitals following the success of its free surgical intervention programme for women across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, disclosed this while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
According to the commissioner, the decision was informed by the overwhelming response to the state’s free fibroid surgery initiative, which benefited about 60 women who could not afford treatment in private hospitals, where the procedure can cost as much as ₦1.5 million.
Obidike said the programme attracted far more beneficiaries than expected, with more than 150 women registering despite an initial target of 66 patients.
He added that the ministry’s expanded specialist healthcare interventions also included more than 70 free cataract surgeries at the Anambra State Eye Care Centre and over 100 free hernia surgeries, both of which exceeded their original targets.
“Many of the beneficiaries had endured years of excessive menstrual bleeding and other complications associated with fibroids, while some required blood transfusions before undergoing surgery because of severe anaemia,” Obidike said.
He attributed the success of the programme to the ongoing transformation of the state’s healthcare system, including the upgrading of general hospitals and the recruitment of specialist consultants, particularly gynaecologists, across public health facilities.
“Government hospitals, including General Hospital, Okpoko, now have the capacity to perform specialised procedures that were previously unavailable in many public facilities. The Okpoko hospital alone successfully carried out at least 15 fibroid surgeries within one week.
“Also, the state government has addressed the absence of general hospitals in some local government areas. As we speak, the six local government areas that previously had no general hospitals now have such facilities, providing healthcare services to people in rural communities,” he said.
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Obidike urged residents to enrol in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme to access affordable healthcare services, stressing that the Soludo administration remains committed to saving lives by making quality healthcare accessible rather than prioritising profit.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Noble Igwe, commended the Ministry of Health for its efforts and urged it to sustain the delivery of quality and affordable healthcare services across the state.
