Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has made a bold statement in health care in the state as he laid the foundation for a 200-bed specialist hospital in Orba, Udenu council area, Monday,
Speaking during at the site of the proposed specialist hospital during the well-attended ceremony, the governor assured that his government will continue to deliver on his campaign promises in transforming the state into a desirable destination for medical tourist that would also draw investors within the country and from countries in the African continent to the Coal City state.
It was an occasion during which the governor received a rare approval of his people-oriented programmes from the World Health Organization whose representative on the occasion, Mrs. Angela Izegbune, poured encomiums on him for taking such a bold move in the health sector in less than 100 days in office.
She also commended the leadership of the state commissioner for health, Dr. Sam Ngwu, at the Ministry of Health for the strides so far and for quickly putting together the activities that culminated in the foundation-laying ceremony.
Governor Ugwuanyi told the huge crowd that the 200-Bed Ultra Modern Specialist Hospital would on completion bring succour to the teeming population of residents of communities in the densely populated Enugu North senatorial zone of the state and reduce the current pressure on the existing two tertiary health institutions in the state whose facilities can no longer carry the huge patients-traffic at the moment.
He recalled that a greater percentage of Nigerians who seek medical attention and assistance abroad are from the South Eastern region and that Enugu contributes a good percentage of them.
He enjoined medical workers and other parties to shun /industrial action capable of undermining the efforts of government, especially in the health sector, situations that could result in loss of lives.
The governor further assured that his government will continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for the effective discharge of Medicare in the state.
He used the occasion to commend the host communities of the hospital project, that is, Orba, Imilike, (and) Ovoko/ Iheaka, for their kind understanding evidenced in their gesture of freely donating land and other forms of assistance for the site while assuring the speedy completion of the project.
According to him, apart from providing specialist services for the people in the rural communities, the health facility would also help to check current rural-to-urban drift syndrome that has bogged down Nigerian society for years now.
“I wish to enjoin all stakeholders in health sector in Enugu to key into this worthy initiative we have taken in the sector and give it the support and cooperation it needs to come to fruition.
“I wish to use the occasion to call on medical and allied workers in the state to show more dedication and commitment to their duties and as much as possible to avoid industrial actions that will occasion preventable loss of lives and consequent loss of faith and confidence in our hospitals.
“On our part as a government, we will as we have always promised provide the facilities, equipment and logistical support necessary for the effective discharge of duties of health workers in the state.
“I wish to thank members of the host communities of this hospital project for their kindness in freely donating the land and also offering other forms of assistance to make this ceremony a reality”, said the governor.
World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Izegbune, in her goodwill message, commended the government led by Governor Ugwuanyi for his laudable achievement before his 100 days in office noting that Enugu State since 2008 till date has been certified Polio free.
She also noted that since the present administration of Ugwuanyi, immunization has risen above 90% in the state, adding that it was a step in the right direction, especially in the health sector.
She also noted that WHO on its own will continue to partner and collaborate with the government in the health sector towards providing a qualitative medical care and taking the health sector to the next height.
