By OGEMDI OZOEMENAM, Awka
The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) Amaku-Awka, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu has commissioned Ajam Community Hospital Ezinifite in Aguata council area of Anambra state to serve the people of the area.
Equipped with modern 24-bed spaces for male and female wards, the facility was reconstructed and equipped by Aguata Local Government Council under the leadership of Dr Chibueze Oforbuike.
Commissioning the edifice, the CMD COOUTH Amaku-Awka, Dr Umeakuewulu appreciated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for giving her the opportunity to serve her people while also thanking Dr Chibueze Oforbuike, Mayor of Aguata for executing the project.
She promised to supply the hospital with doctors and nurses to enhance 24hrs medical coverage, urging indigenes of the area to take ownership of the facility by constructing perimeter fencing round the hospital as well as solar light for the security of medical officials and patients.
“From 2023-2026 according to World Health Organisation and UNICEF, Nigeria ranked second in maternal mortality globally after India. So globally, we are contributing a significant portion of maternal mortality while developing countries contribute 90%.
“To this end, if we can strengthen our primary healthcare centres and community hospitals, we will crash our maternal mortality rate because it offers care at the grassroots.
“However, we need ambulance that can move patients from homes to our health centre, fencing of the hospital to ensure security of the area and science laboratory to conduct some tests and scan,” she said.
The CMD further called on indigenes of Ezinifite to assist in addressing the above pressing needs
“If we must reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria, our primary healthcare centres and community hospitals must be revitalised while ensuring 24hrs healthcare coverage with doctors inclusive to attend to emergencies. We must also bring in a strong referral system with a sound ambulance to move resuscitated patients to COOUTH for proper care,” Dr Umeakuewulu concluded.
Earlier, the Chairman Aguata Local Govt Council, Dr Chibueze Oforbuike appealed to patriotic sons and daughters of Ezinifite to come and execute some projects in the hospital.
He noted that the reconstructed hospital is a step towards greater things for the community.
The Mayor used the occasion to announce the enrolment of 120 elderly indigenes into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, paying #12,000 to each beneficiary annually.
Dr Oforbuike who encouraged people to enrol into ASHIA, urged locals to take ownership of the facility to guard against land encroachment.
On his part, Chief Titus Anigbogu, while appreciating the benefactors, urged philanthropists to key into the project to further enhance structural development of the hospital.
