FG ACTIVATES FUTH OWERRI FACILITY UPGRADE AS FUNCTIONAL TEACHING HOSPITAL

REPORTER: CHIKA EWURUM

The Federal Government has inaugurated the upgrade of the Federal Medical Center to Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) Owerri.

The Inauguration of the upgrade was activated by the Minister of Health for State, Mr. Joseph Ekumankama, at the Hospital premises Owerri.

The Minister, who called for collaboration between the New Medical School of Federal University of Technology and the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, said they had more to benefit.

He noted that with the upgrade, the hospital could compete as one of the first grade hospitals in the country.

The Minister explained that apart from training medical students, the Teaching Hospital would be upgraded with the state of the art equipment befitting a Teaching Hospital that would benefit those who access the hospital and the procurement of cancer equipment as approved by the president.

“With this upgrade which you have fought for, and gotten with the kind approval of the president, it would lead to serious upgrade in terms of medical equipments that would be installed in this hospital,” the Minister stated.

The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri Professor Nnennaya Oti, who appreciated all those who contributed to the upgrade, opined that the Teaching Hospital was a beacon of hope to the people of the state, who needed to make tedious trips outside the state for medical treatment.

According to the Vice Chancellor, it would provide advanced medical research through linkages with foreign partners and generate employment.

Professor Oti also pointed out that more works needed to be done in some quarters as she said the storm was not yet over.

“There’s much work yet to be done in diverse areas.

“Therefore, it is pertinent to highlight some immediate demands the actualization of the Teaching Hospital places on us.

“Massive infrastructural development, upgrade in curriculum, upgrade of laboratories with state of the art equipments and the employment of competent staff to ensure the training of world class medical doctors,” Prof. Oti noted.

Meanwhile, in his address, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu, expressed appreciation to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for his political push and intervention to the success of the upgrade by the federal government.

“Anyone who understands the workings of government and the painstaking process of getting approval for such an upgrade by Mr. President knows that this would not have been possible by mere application.

“What we are witnessing took the political sagacity and push of the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma and his team, and the necessary administrative intervention and guidance by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire,” Dr. Achigbu remarked.

The CMD recalled that the journey of the upgrade, which started about 46 years ago, was made possible because of their service delivery, infrastructural development, acquisition of modern day facility among others.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, emphasized that the event of the day was a collaboration between his administration and the federal government.

He further explained that it was part of their commitment to provide quality healthcare to the people of the state and environs, who had to travel a long distance for such services.

He pledge his support for the institution to achieve their mandate of providing adequate health care to the people.

The highlight of the event were the foundation laying of the E-Library for the medical school and inauguration of other facilities for the upgrade.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU