Kudos For Dr Joseph Ugboaja As 2 Depts In NAUTH Move To Perm Site

By Ifeoma Ejiofor

Kudos For Dr Ugboaja As 2 Depts In NAUTH Move To Perm Site

In continuation of the passion of the acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Joseph Ugboaja to move Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi to her permanent site, two departments have been relocated to the expansive perm site of the hospital.

The two departments recently moved from temporary site to permanent site are the General Outpatient and National Health Insurance Scheme.

All the speakers (staff and patients) who spoke with journalists applauded the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr Ugboaja for his deep passion to move the hospital to the permanent site.

The Desk Officer, NHIS, Mrs Nwigwe Chi said that the development is a welcomed one.

Mrs Nwigwe said that she has been looking forward to such a time when opportunity would arise for the movement to the permanent site.

She said emphatically that the movement from the temporary site to the permanent is an answer to prayers even as she commeneded Dr Joseph Ugboaja and the management of the hospital for making the dream of moving to the permanent site a reality.

A  consultant family physician, Dr Anyaoku Chinedu who is also the Head, NHIS, NAUTH Nnewi said that the first step to move the hospital to greatness is the relocation to the permanent site.

He said that better days are here both for the staff and patients of the hospital.

In his own remarks, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Ezejiofor Ogo  said that the two departments moved were the GOPD and NHIS.

Dr Ezejiofor said that it has always been the desire of the newly appointed acting CMD to move NAUTH to the permanent site because of the relative advantages associated with such giant stride.

He said that every forward looking staff of the health institution cannot afford not to support Dr Ugboaja in his dream to have NAUTH relocate to her permanent site because according to him the temporary site is congested.

Dr Ezejiofor said with relish that the facilities at the permanent site is supportive of such movement.

"We have enough consulting rooms in the permanent site, the staff and patients are relaxed unlike what used to be the experience at the temporary site. If we can have this kind of experience on the first day of moving these two departments here, I can assure you that greater days is ahead." The deputy CMAC insisted.

Some of the patients who spoke with journalists were excited and happy about  the movement  to the permanent site which has greatly eased the discomforts they were facing at the old site. They commended the doctors and nurses for the friendly way they attended to them.

They however prayed that something can be done  urgently about the small stretch  of the road to the NAUTH's permanent site before the rains come.

When contacted, the  Ag.Chief Medical Director, Dr Ugboaja Joseph said that the relocation of these departments is in line with the management's resolve to  develop the permanent site which will help in achieving the new vision of the hospital. "Our vision is to transform NAUTH to one of the top 5 hospitals in the country. One of our key priority area is  infrastructural development at the permanent site.  The others are human capital development, acquisition of state of the art equipment, quality improvement and e- medicine & use of ICT".

The young and energetic acting CMD further said that his administration will utilize the Public Private Partnership platform to provide the necessary funding for the projects. " we will leverage greatly on the federal government's policy on PPP to achieve our objects. Fortunately, we have public spirited individuals and corporate organizations who have indicated interest in Partnering with us to transform the hospital  to one of the best in Nigeria. I am therefore appealing to more people to come on board and join hands with us in this task of transforming the hospital"

He said that the next phase of movement which will take place soon will involve all the remaining clinics in the hospital including that for the women and children.

The  Ag.Chief Medical Director thanked the board members especially the Board chairman, Chief Ezekiel Afukonyo for all their support, passion and commitment towards the movement to the permanent. 

He recalled that relocation of the hospital to the permanent site has been a cardinal objective of the present board of management.

The Acting CMD also sent a note of appreciation to all the staff of the hospital who are involved in achieving this feat especially the deputy CMAC, Dr Ezejiofor OI who is leading the operations, the Head of works, Engr Pamella Ohanaja and the facility manager, Mrs Emilia Nwankwo.

He then called on everybody including members of staff, community stakeholders and members of the press  to join hands with the present administration to get the NAUTH of our dream.