Nursesarena Forum

IN his drive to realize of his administration's three -pronged strategy for the development of the health sectorin Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano has pledged to build staff quarters for doctors and nurses in all state owned General hospitals.

In addition, the Onitsha, Enugwu-Ukwu and Ekwulobia General hospitals will be upgraded to provide comprehensive healthcare services in the three senatorial zones.

Meanwhile, Governor Obiano's wife, Ebelechukwu, has advocated the adoption of drasticmeasures and institution of reforms to bring about an end to the spate of human rights violation, and violence against women and girls.

Also, the United Butchers Multipurpose Co-operative Society in Anambra State has been cautioned to refrain from slaughtering uninspected animals for human consumption to avoid spreading diseases.

Obiano disclosed this at the General Hospital Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area while inspecting the on-going construction of a staff quarters project.

He observed that the one-storey building comprising four and three bedroom flats would be replicated in all the General Hospitals in the state within the next two years.

He explained that he considered the provision of accommodation to medical staff very important for the general well-being of Anambra people .

According to Obiano, "housing doctors and nurses within the hospital premises would enable them provide regular services to the people and respond promptly to emergencies."The Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr. Nnamdi Uliagbafusi requested the governor's intervention in providing electricity, water and fencing of the premises.

Speaking on the occasion of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women organized by the International Association of World Peace Advocates at Women Development Centre (WDC), Awka, Mrs. Obiano, regretted that violent and abusive practices against women have continued over the years.

She noted that often, violence against women was fuelled by discriminatory practices, such that across the world, women are beaten, raped, mutilated, andkilled with impunity.

The governor's wife said that notwithstanding the fact that the State has the obligation to prevent, protect and punish violence against women whether perpetrated by private or public actors, obvious gaps still existed in the mechanism for protection of individuals from human rights abuses, hence such violence is often ignored and rarely punished, and the culprits are not held accountable for the crimes.

"My expectation is that this conference should be able to come up with suggestions for thereforms and proffer some new solutions to how this cycle of violence against women can be eradicated and the perpetrators held responsible.

The Chairman, Anambra East Local Government Area, Hillary O. Udanoh stated this yesterday during the inauguration of the refurbished slaughter slab in the council. He further warned that itwas dangerous for the butchers to either secretly or publicly slaughter animals for the people to buy and consume without subjecting the animals for properinspection emphasizing that suchact portends danger to human health.

Source: http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201412012369.html/