A House of Representatives aspirant under All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Odiraa Nwankwo, has declared his readiness to serve in the National Assembly, outlining his legislative priorities and strategy during an engagement with journalists.
Speaking at a League of Anambra Journalists In Abuja (LAJA) interactive session in Abuja, Nwankwor explained what he intends to achieve as a first-time lawmaker who intends to represent Orumba North and South of Anambra state at the Nigeria’s House of Representatives.
He emphasieed why he believes he is qualified, citing years of experience in medicine and public service, as well as his involvement in healthcare interventions across Nigeria.
“I know I’m going to be a freshman lawmaker, but based on my experience, I expect to contribute meaningfully,” he said.
On how he plans to make impact, Nwankwo revealed that he aims to secure a position in the House Committee on Health Institutions to push forward critical healthcare reforms.
He identified healthcare financing as a major priority, stressing the need to strengthen Nigeria’s health insurance system to make care accessible and affordable.
“Healthcare is expensive. There has to be a way to make the health insurance scheme work so that people can easily walk in and receive care,” he stated.
He also underscored the importance of active participation in legislative debates, noting that effective lawmakers must be vocal, engaged, and committed to delivering results.
Dr. Nwankwor, has outlined an ambitious legislative agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria’s healthcare system, with a strong focus on reducing child mortality through improved critical care services.
Explaining why urgent reforms are needed, he described Nigeria’s under-five mortality rate as alarming, noting that it currently stands at 111 per 1,000 live births.
“What that means is that one out of every eight Nigerian children will not live to see their fifth birthday,” he said.
He stressed that the crisis persists because Nigeria has focused largely on primary healthcare while neglecting secondary and tertiary care systems.
How to fix this, according to him, is through deliberate policy and legislative intervention, particularly the establishment of pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) across the six geopolitical zones.
“We have focused primarily on prevention, but we are neglecting early detection, prompt treatment, and critical care,” he added.
Nwankwor noted that his professional background as a pediatric intensivist would enable him to drive these reforms, especially through active participation in the House Committee on Health Institutions.
The Green Chamber hopeful also shared how his personal initiative and passion for child healthcare led to the establishment of a pediatric intensive care unit in Nigeria.
While recounting what he described as one of the most fulfilling projects of his career, Dr. Nwankwor explained how he sourced medical equipment from abroad—often collecting used but functional supplies—to set up the ICU at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu.
“I told them I was coming to build an ICU and that I would bring everything needed,” he said.
Highlighting why the project was necessary, he pointed to the lack of critical care facilities contributing to high child mortality rates in Nigeria.
Beyond infrastructure, he ensured sustainability by facilitating specialised training for doctors in South Africa and Kenya, while nurses were also trained in pediatric ICU care.
He also revealed that he has shipped multiple 40-foot containers of medical supplies to Nigeria, reinforcing his long-term commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
