One of the most significant stories that emerged from the recently concluded second edition of the Anambra Investment Summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Anambra State Government and JNC International for the establishment of an Oncology Center. This specialized facility will serve as a dedicated center in Anambra for the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of cancer.
When the announcement was made, I remembered how the former Anambra state commissioner for works, Engr. Marcel, shared the struggles his family faced in obtaining a timely cancer diagnosis and treatment for his beloved wife. Unfortunately, these challenges contributed to her untimely passing. He earnestly requested that Governor Soludo commit to establishing a cancer treatment center in the state. Unbeknownst to him, the Soludo administration had already initiated plans to make Anambra, a destination for oncology centers.
Once completed, this center will significantly reduce the amount of money people from the Southeast currently spend traveling abroad for cancer treatment. It will position Anambra as a leader in healthcare provision and a preferred destination for health tourism, especially given that Nigeria has the highest rate of cancer deaths in the world. In under 30 months in office, Soludo has demonstrated strong leadership, and history will undoubtedly remember him forever.
BY IZUCHUKWU ADICHIE
