Some residents of Okpoko in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra have said the new hospital constructed by the state Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, will provide better and quality healthcare services.

The resident said this during a project tour on Saturday, organised by consolidated transporters under the umbrella of Solution Marshals in Anambra.

They described the projects as people-oriented.

The projects visited included internal roads measuring about 12km and ultra modern General Hospital at Okpoko in Ogbaru and a multi-billion naira flyover at Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA.

A resident, Ruth Ngene, who had lived in the community for many years, was happy, noting that travelling several kilometers to access healthcare was over.

“This hospital in Okpoko community is an answered prayer. The hospital is helping those who are sick, pregnant women, children especially in emergencies. We thank Governor Soludo for taking away the sufferings we experience when it comes to accessing healthcare,” she said.

The Vice President-General of Okpoko, Jude Ezenwa, said the community had received a new lease of life and an economic boost since Mr Soludo embarked on transformative projects.

He said the hospital had shortened the distance they travelled to access healthcare, adding that the internal roads with street lights had made the place “new haven.”

“Okpoko used to be one of the biggest slums in West Africa, but today, Governor Soludo has transformed it. We are promising the governor that we will own these facilities by maintaining them for the use of our people,” he said.

A resident of Ekwulobia community, Daniel Umeh said Soludo’s projects in the area were impacting positively on the lives of the people.

He said, “The Ekwulobia Bridge is a strategic bridge which connects Awka to Imo State through the Uga community and an interchange link to Nnewi through Nnobi, also to Isuochi in Abia state through Umunze.

The Coordinator of Solution Marshals, Osita Obi, told journalists after the tour that they were impressed with the transformation of Okpoko, an urban slum within the Onitsha metropolis.

“Soludo had fulfilled his promises to the residents of Okpoko and Ekwulobia with connecting roads, boreholes for potable water supply and general hospitals which offered free child and maternal healthcare. This project tour confirms that taxpayers’ money was being used for the good of the people. I urge our people to support the governor for a second term so as not to disrupt this lofty development agenda,” he said.

Also speaking, Secretary, Solution Marshals, Emmanuel Oramalu, said that the position of the group was that Mr Soludo was prioritising people-oriented projects in the state.

(NAN)