-Commends CMD, Achigbu
By Martin Nwoko
The Minster of state for Health, Senator Dr. Adeleke. O. Mamora last week commissioned multiple completed projects at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri under the watch of the current Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu and management and Board of the hospital.
In a welcome address presented at the event, the Chief Medical Director thanked the administration of Muhammadu Buhari for its concerted effort towards improving the health care system in the country.
The CMD revealed that the health institution came into existence 118 years ago as a district hospital which he said later metamphosed into a General Hospital and now a Federal Medical Centre.
He equally hinted that the health institution has about 700 bed capacity and also takes care of about 7 million people both out patients and in-patents. Dr. Achigbu maintained that the health facility has a very strong record of an average of 4,000 deliveries annually.
He used the opportunity to commend the Governor of Imo state Senator Hope Uzodinma for his unwavering support to the health institution especially during the out break of Covid-19 which he said helped in controlling the pandemic .
Speaking further, Achigbu used the occasion to bring to the notice of the Minister some of the challenges facing the health institution such as reimbursement from federal government some of the funds spent during the outbreak of Corona virus in the state.
The hospital also demanded for a waiver to allow it engage more hands in the health facility noting that many staff are leaving the shores of the country for greener pasture. In his request also, the C.M.D called for the upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri to a Teaching Hospital stressing that they have the manpower and equipments required. He urged Dr. Adeleke Mamora to use his good offices to facilitate the upgrade.
In his contribution, Chairman of the Governing Board of FMC Owerri, Senator Dr. IS’HAQ Salam commended the CMD and his team for the wonderful job they are doing to reposition the health institution within 3 years they assumed office. HE urged Dr. Achigbu and his team to remain resolute in their resolve to tansform F.M.C Owerri.
The Board Chairman also joined the call for F.M.C Owerri to be upgraded to a Teaching Hospital.
In his response, the Minister of Health for state, Senator Dr. Adeleke Mamora hinted that the development seen in F.M.C Owerri today is an eloquent testimony of good management maintaining that the federal government will continue to support the centre to achieve more success in the health sector. The minister also thanked the governing board and management of the health institution for restoring peace which he said has brought more development and growth to the centre. He thanked the host community for their support and cordial relationship existing between them and the federal medical centre.
The minister for state who was a two time Speaker of Lagos state house of assembly and a former senator promised to address some of the challenges listed by the CMD stressing that his presence at the centre will facilitate that.
On the issue of upgrading F.M.C Owerri to a Teaching Hospital, Dr Adeleke reiterated that their request for an upgrade is legitimate stressing that such has been done in some states and that Imo state is not out of place. He urged the Governor of Imo state ably represented by the commissioner for health, Dr Bath Okorochukwu to initiate the process and that he will do the needful from his office. Dr Adeleke also charged the CMD not to relent in his effort and to also ensure that all projects commissioned at the institution are judiciously managed.
Some of the projects built and commissioned by the minister include: a 33KVA power project, infectious disease complex, MRI Building Centre, F.M.C Owerri outreach Centre in Njaba LGA Renal Dialysis Centre and a host of others.
In his vote of thanks, the traditional ruler of Umuoronjo in Owerri Municipal HRH Eze Clinton Odoegblam stated that they have not seen the level of unprecedented development in FMC Owerri like this before he therefore urged the CMD to continue in his good work.
The Monarch also expressed optimism that the request to upgrade the institution to a Teaching Hospital will be speedily granted.According to him, the host community is ready to provide more land for the expansion of the centre.
The event attracted lots of dignitaries among who is the director General of Nigeria Centre for disease control, Dr Chikwe Ihekwoazu and a host of others.
