NMA honors Anambra 1st lady, as Soludo to advance public health, champion healthy living 

the state

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra state chapter has honoured wife of the state governor, Nonye Soludo for advancing public health and championing healthy living in the state.

The award was presented to her together with the Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike and immediate past Acting Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Joseph Ikechebelu during the NMA 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference’ in Awka.

Receiving the award on behalf of the governor’s wife, Health Commissioner, who doubles as Coordinator of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative said the honour would inspire her to keep using her crusade to touch more lives.

He commended NMA for recognising efforts of the governor’s wife who he said had used her NGO to make significant impact by revolutionaliszing the concept and practice of healthy living across the length and breadth of the state. 

NMA state Chairman, Princeston Okam said the award was in appreciation for Mrs Soludo’s tireless efforts as the “foremost champion of healthy living” and her outstanding contributions to the growth of the health sector in the state.

Describing what she was doing with her NGO as revolutionary and advancing public health advocacy, Okam further noted that Mrs Soludo had consistently used her voice and position to protect child rights, promote infant and maternal health, and support women’s empowerment.

“Through her widely followed platforms, the first lady is championing wellness, nutrition and transformative social insights, reaching thousands of people with practical solutions.

Declaring open the event, themed, “From Drain to Gain: Strategies for Building Nigerian Health Workforce Capacity” Governor Chukwuma Soludo restated his commitment to bridging the brain drain gap in the state’s health system.

The governor, represented by Health Commissioner identified the “japa syndrome” as one of the major challenges in the state health sector which was partly being addressed through telemedicine technology.

He said, “This year’s theme carefully chosen is one of those global issues causing the current administration headache and white hairs. 

“We’ve been bridging the gap of this brain drain, especially through use of technology. We’re already doing the primary telemedicine in the state developed by the governor.

“We’ve engaged some of the doctors – two doctors per local government to serve the PHCs. We’re going to escalate it to secondary and tertiary. We’re also working on use of technology to increase training. 

“We’re also building one of the biggest medical university in Nigeria which will be ready in 15 months and most of us will be engaged in the process.”

Presenting a paper on how to convert brain drain to brain gain through Telemedicine, Specialist and expert in telemedicine and telehealth, Gbenga Ogunfowokan said the brains of doctors in diaspora could be deployed to solve domestic problems without necessarily bringing them back. 

“The state can use Telemedicine in the PHCs to provide care for those areas with innumerable sicknesses where doctors can’t be easily accessed ,” Chief Consultant Family Physician said.

Provost, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Jude-kennedy Emejulu identified pull and push factors as major reasons behind doctors’ drain.

“The pull factors are those that attract you to where you’re going – clean environment, security, quality remuneration, prospective future, while push factors are the prevailing Nigerian challenges – poor renumeration, infrastructure, bleak future, among others,” he noted.

AGM Local Organizing Secretary, Obinna Aniagboso pledged the body’s continued engagement with government, especially on the area of remuneration increase to retain the workforce. 

“We also encourage our members, especially the young ones to stay back. There are still benefits and fulfilment, especially treating and restoring the health of your own people,” he added.