Fatshimetrie: Minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha’s Passion for Health of the Poor
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, recently stressed the critical importance of the health sector, urging state governors not to neglect the vital sector in favour of road infrastructure. Speaking at an annual free health screening initiative in Isuochi, Abia State, Onyejeocha warned of the consequences of neglecting the health sector, stressing that road construction, while beneficial, should not come at the expense of the sick population.
“Governors should expand their scope to include the health sector, agriculture and security. A declining health sector means we are encouraging a sick population,” Onyejeocha said.
A former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, the minister highlighted her passion for the health and wellbeing of the poor, explaining that her free health screening initiative was driven by the need to help those who could not afford treatment. For the past 17 years, she has been funding the operation from her personal savings, considering it a “covenant with God”.
During the ongoing initiative, Dr. Humble Chimaobi, the Medical Team Leader at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, disclosed that over 120 patients had been treated, including 35 surgical cases. The target is to cater for 600 medical patients and 400 surgical cases, with the major pathologies encountered being hernia, malaria, hypertension and diabetes.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Onyejeocha, calling her a “messenger of God”, with some sharing how her efforts had saved their families from financial ruin.
The Minister reaffirmed her commitment to providing free healthcare to the poorest, promising to pursue this initiative at all costs. Her dedication to the health of the most vulnerable is an example to follow, reminding us of the importance of not neglecting health in favour of other priorities. Beyond infrastructure, health remains a key pillar of the nation’s well-being.