Anambra First Lady Installed Grand Matron of Mothers & Children at COOUTH
The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, was on Friday invested as the Grand Matron of Pregnant Women and Children at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka.
First lady of Anambra State Dr Mrs Noney soludo and CMD of COOUTH, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu during the first lady installation as grand matron for pregnant women and children and tour of ongoing projects at the hospital
The investiture followed the recognition of her immense contributions to the welfare of women and children in the state through her pet project, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative.
The honour also recognised the First Lady’s campaign for preventive medicine through healthy living and the consumption of natural foods.
Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who is the founder of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, was bestowed with the honour during the commissioning of a Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative shop at the tertiary hospital.
The commissioning formed part of a tour of the transformative projects and programmes being implemented by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of COOUTH, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu.
During the visit, the First Lady also toured and inspected ongoing projects at the hospital, including the maternal and child unit and other renovated infrastructure.
She unveiled the implant shop, among other facilities, and commended the CMD for her commitment to transforming the institution into a world-class teaching hospital.
According to the First Lady, she was impressed by the level of development recorded by the CMD in less than six months since she assumed office.
Addressing more than 500 pregnant women during the visit, Mrs. Soludo urged them to take good care of themselves, particularly by paying attention to what they eat.
She encouraged the women to consume natural and healthy foods as part of preventive medicine ,noting that unhealthy dietary practices could contribute to various health challenges.
“When you eat natural food, it heals and cures. When you eat natural food, it helps to develop the babies in the womb,” she said.
She also admonished the pregnant women to establish backyard gardens after childbirth, where they could grow and source fresh, natural foods for their families.
“The natural diet you eat is very important to your health status. Eat healthy and eat well,” she added.
Mrs. Soludo further urged the women to practise exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as one of the greatest gifts a mother can give her child.
According to her, breastfeeding helps to create a strong bond between mothers and their children.
She expressed concern over reports of mothers abusing their babies, attributing some of such cases to a lack of bonding between mothers and their children.
The First Lady reminded the women that health is the greatest wealth and one of the most important gifts in life.
She also urged them to maintain clean environments and make healthy and natural foods a regular part of their diets.
As part of her support for the pregnant women, Mrs. Soludo presented N20,000 to each of the women present, in addition to a Healthy Living Pack.
Mrs Soludo however described the award of Grand Matron of COOUTH Pregnant Women and Children as the best birthday gift she had ever received.
Speaking at the event, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, commended Governor Charles Soludo for what he described as significant work being done at COOUTH.
“The governor has done a lot in COOUTH. He has tied all the roads in the complex, installed solar lights,built a trauma centre, and salaries are paid as and when due,” he said.
The commissioner also specifically commended the CMD for her efforts in moving the hospital forward.
According to him, Dr. Umeakuewulu had demonstrated the capacity, commitment and sense of purpose required to transform the hospital into a world-class teaching institution.
“She is committed to moving the hospital forward and upgrading it to the highest level, and the government is ready to give her all the support,” he said.
The CMD of COOUTH, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, in her address, commended the First Lady for accepting to serve as the Grand Matron of Pregnant Women and Children in the institution.
“Today is a special day for all of us in COOUTH. It is a special day for Her Excellency to accept the grand matronship of pregnant women and children. It means she found us worthy. She believes in what we are doing here; she actually believes we are working here in Amaku,” she said.
According to the CMD, the hospital was committed to providing care not only for pregnant women and children but for everybody who requires medical attention.
She said the First Lady must have heard about and seen the transformative agenda and activities taking place at the hospital before accepting the offer to become the Grand Matron.
“Today, she is not only the First Lady of the state but a family member of COOUTH, Amaku.
“She is the founder of Healthy Living, and she has done so well. Her activities, which I have been following, have really inspired somebody like me.
“I have just stopped seeing medicine as being only about therapeutic care. Most of us in the profession see medicine as therapeutic care for sickness. When you see a patient, you make a diagnosis and prescribe medication.
“Her enthusiasm for healthy living has made some of us to think back and move towards preventive medicine. Today, a lot of people are suffering from illnesses like cancer, including younger persons. Apart from making diagnoses and treating patients, we have to look back and understand the root causes of some of these illnesses,” she added.
According to the CMD, it was time to pay greater attention to what people eat and place more emphasis on preventive medicine.
“Today, we opened a Healthy Living shop in Amaku Hospital. We want to change the pattern of our prescriptions. We want to start managing our patients in a holistic manner.
“The First Lady also opened an implant shop, the first of its kind in the zone. It is for orthopaedic surgery. Our target is not only Amaku but the entire South-East.
“We used the opportunity to show her the work in progress in the hospital,” she added.
