The permanent site of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State would decongest the already overstretched temporary site, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Anthony Igwegbe has said.
Stakeholders of the health institution drawn from its management as well as the people of Nnewi, Ozubulu and Oraifite on whose land the hospital’s permanent site was located had shown their resolve to make the relocation realizeable soon with an appeal to government, corporate organizations and individuals to come to their aid.
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting at the permanent site, yesterday, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Anthony Igwegbe noted that with the erection of structures by government, group and individual efforts the level of preparedness of the stakeholders to give the hospital a status it deserved to enable it move to the permanent site was no longer in doubt.
He said some medical services had already started there as an assurance that it was not all talk without actions.
“One of our major challenges, however, is road network to access this place. We have master plan to write anybody’s name on any project executed for the institution. We are grateful to some of the stakeholders for their contributions so far and we are asking for more, ” he said.
The NAUTH Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Ezekiel Afukonyo expressed optimism that the relocation to the permanent site had been a possibility despite his initial skepticism when he arrived the hospital as a board Chairman.
“My expectation was coming to see a gigantic site called NAUTH. But that was not what I saw. I was wondering if it is really a teaching hospital I’m asked to seat as Board Chairman. My heart skipped a bit. I saw faces that were sad and angry. My spirit told me there was a fundamental problem because nobody in that hospital was happy, everybody was wearing a very sad look, ” he said.
According to Afukonyo, the idea of promotion with 400 as the first batch which was later added 200 was informed by the realization that all the workers needed was promotion.
He said that served as a tonic “and today here we are holding the stakeholders meeting at the permanent site and our efforts have come to fruition”. He revealed that about fifteen persons among the stakeholders had indicated their interest to build structures at the permanent site.
He appealed to the stakeholders especially the Nnewi, Ozubulu and Oraifite communities to put aside every misunderstanding and work collectively for the interest of the growth and development of the health institution.
Chairman on the occasion who was also the former CMD of NAUTH, Professor R.O.Ofiaeli said that the progress of the teaching hospital was already noticeable, adding that the institution was well known and had Professors in all health fields.
The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Joseph Ugbaja said the hospital was lucky to be in a community that had history of philanthropy.
“We are lucky in Nnewi. Nnewi has history of philanthropy and up to 50 or 70 percent of the buildings at the term site are built by Nnewi people. We need infrastructure. You cannot depend on government appropriation to get those things done.
“We have a specialty clinic almost completed at the permanent site. As the CMD has rightly pointed out, you can see the nature of our roads to the permanent site. We need help, ” he declared.
Some of the dignitaries at the event were Obi Benneth Okafor, Obi Umudim, former Governor of Anambra State, Virgy Etiaba and member representing Nnewi North/Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Hon Chris Azubogu, among others.
