The Anambra State government has approved the construction of a rehabilitation centre in Nibo, Awka, aimed at addressing mental health challenges in the state.

The decision was announced by Governor Charles Soludo, following the 12th meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), held at the state’s new government house in Awka.

The move is part of the administration’s broader commitment to accessible and holistic healthcare for all citizens. “Mental health is health too, and we must treat it with the same urgency and dignity as physical health,” declared the governor.

Speaking on the initiative, the State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, explained that the new centre will serve individuals discharged from asylums by offering a safe, structured environment with the full spectrum of rehabilitation services needed for reintegration into their families and communities.

“This facility complements Soludo’s inclusive healthcare agenda, which is anchored on the principle that good health goes beyond the absence of illness; it includes mental wellness,” Mefor said.

The governor, who was recently recognised as the most performing governor in primary healthcare both in the Southeast and nationwide, continues to deepen reforms in the health sector.

In line with his commitment to maternal and child health, the governor has also approved the supply of routine antenatal drugs and other related services under the state’s free antenatal and delivery services scheme.

Further reinforcing his healthcare infrastructure drive, Soludo awarded the contract for the reconstruction and fortification of the collapsed section of the perimeter fence and drainage system at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nawfia.