The Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Chapter, has commended the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area, Olorogun Innocent Ifeanyi Esewezie, for his commitment to improving healthcare delivery at the grassroots through the construction of a Cottage Hospital in Okpanam, Delta State.
The association described the healthcare project as a people-oriented initiative capable of bringing essential medical services closer to residents of Oshimili North and neighbouring communities.
Speaking on behalf of ACNPN, the State Chairman, Comrade Ike Philip Abiagom, said the significance of the project became more evident following its official commissioning and the six-day free medical outreach sponsored by the council chairman to provide healthcare services to residents.
According to him, the outreach offered a range of medical interventions, including surgical procedures, eye care, general medical consultations, laboratory investigations and other healthcare services at no cost to beneficiaries.
Abiagom disclosed that at least four members of ACNPN benefited directly from the medical programme, describing the intervention as a practical demonstration of the impact government-sponsored healthcare initiatives can have on individuals and families.
“One of our members underwent successful cataract surgery during the outreach. Today, he has regained his sight and has returned to his journalism profession. This is a life-changing intervention that deserves commendation,” he said.
The ACNPN chairman noted that access to quality healthcare remains a major concern for many Nigerians, particularly amid rising medical expenses, stressing that initiatives that provide affordable or free medical services can significantly reduce the burden on vulnerable members of society.
He also commended Esewezie for linking the commissioning of the new healthcare facility with an immediate medical intervention for residents, describing the approach as responsive governance.
“Beyond constructing a modern healthcare facility, Olorogun Esewezie ensured that the people immediately benefited from it through a free medical outreach. This is governance with a human face,” Abiagom stated.
He added that the outreach provided an opportunity for residents, including journalists, artisans, traders and members of other professional groups, to access medical services that might otherwise have been financially difficult to obtain.
The ACNPN chairman urged other local government chairmen in Delta State and across Nigeria to prioritize projects and programmes that have direct and measurable benefits for residents, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and social welfare.
He said ACNPN would continue to recognize and report developmental initiatives that promote good governance and improve the quality of life of people at the grassroots.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies and programmes that place the welfare of citizens at the centre of governance, while encouraging public officials to sustain investments in healthcare and other essential services.
