In a direct response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s call for the Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) model, the Ichi community has mobilized to breathe life into the long-dormant Ichi General Hospital which has not been functional for the past two decades.
The facility, which serves as a critical healthcare hub for the Ekwusigo Local Government Area headquarters, has been non-functional for an extended period, leaving residents with limited access to secondary healthcare services.
The revival project is already seeing tangible progress, fueled by the contributions of local stakeholders, as one of the community’s illustrious sons has single-handedly commenced the construction of the access road leading to the hospital; a move seen as vital for ensuring that articulated vehicles, ambulances and patients can reach the facility without hindrance.
Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, who led a delegation of journalists to the hospital site, said his goal was to provide a transparent update on the facility’s status and the community’s intervention efforts.
According to him, the hospital is currently not functional, but they are not sitting idly by, stating that following the Governor’s vision of shared responsibility, the Ichi community is taking the lead to ensure thay the facility becomes a center of excellence once again.
Hon. Ofodeme assured constituents that the is working closely with the State Ministry of Health to ensure that the infrastructure is ready, as the proposal has been shared with the state government.
The Majority Leader praised the “Think Home” philosophy of the Ichi people, noting that the ongoing roadwork is a testament to the power of community-driven development.
Recall that Governor Soludo has frequently emphasized that the government cannot develop the state alone and the Ichi General Hospital project is becoming a flagship example of how the PPCP initiative can solve local problems without waiting solely on the state budget.
