The Staff and patients of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, on Tuesday played host to the traditional ruler of Nnewi, HRM, Igwe Dr KON Orizu 111, Obis of Uruagu, Umudum and Nnewichi as well as some titled chiefs, NAUTH’S board chairman and members and the hospital management.
Earlier, the NAUTH’s board chairman, Chief Ezekiel Irimiya , the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof Anthony Igwegbe, members of board and management arrived the permanent and were conducted round the facilities at the NAUTH permanent site by the CMAC, Dr Ugboaja Joe, who is the Chairman of the hospital Committee on movement to the permanent site.
In his welcome address during an interaction with the oldest monarch in Africa, the CMD, Prof Igwegbe said that the movement to the permanent site was a continuation of the commissioning and handing over of the medical center to the hospital by the Anambra Progressives.
He noted that after the handing over ceremonies, the management of the hospital met and decided to move in immediately.
Prof Igwegbe pointed out that Igwe Nnewi has always been asking him when NAUTH would move to the permanent site noting that he is a happy man now that the process has become a reality.
“We are starting with the medical outpatient clinic, very soon all the specialist clinics would be moved to the permanent site, we also hope to move more facilities to this place. The consulting rooms here are just like very comfortable hotel rooms, the doctors and the patients would be relaxed and no need for anyone to be in a haste because of a congested environment as is the case in the temporary site.” He said.
The CMD revealed that the internal roads at the permanent site have been awarded for construction and that work had already begun.
The NAUTH’s Board Chairman, Chief Ezekiel Irimiya in his speech said that his board is passionately committed to the upliftment of the system and facilities in the hospital.
He recalled that the first question that HRM Igwe Dr KON Orizu 111 asked him when he met him for the first time was what he would do to move NAUTH to the permanent site, he said he promptly promised that the dream would become a reality soon.
“As a way to satisfy the yawning of the Paramount Royal Father, we started making efforts to complete some buildings at the permanent site before the Anambra Progressives moved in and broke the jinx.” He said.
Chief Irimiya however pleaded with public spirited individuals to rise to the help of the hospital by reconstruction of the less than one kilometer access road to the hospital.
HRM, Igwe Dr KON Orizu 111 in his speech thanked God and all the persons that contributed one way or the other to make the dream of the hospital moving to the permanent site a reality.
The royal father said he had anxiously waited for day NAUTH would move to her permanent site for over twenty years and was happy that it has come to pass.
He especially commeneded the NAUTH’s board chairman and members, CMD and CMAC as well as other management team for their efforts in building a teaching hospital that would be a pride of all Nnewi people, Anambra State and indeed all Nigerians.
The CMAC, Dr Ugboaja Joe who played a key role in attracting the building and facilitating the movement to the permanent site, gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Board and management of the hospital. He appreciated Igwe KON Orizu III and his entourage for the visit and thanked in a special way members of the Anambra Progressives for their magnanimity.
Dr Ugboaja who heads the board committee on Public Private Partnerships (PPP) stated that the hospital is willing and ready to partner with all interested parties for the provision of the infrastructure needed to radically transform the hospital. He promised that the donated facility will be well managed.
Highlights of the event include the checking of the vital signs of Igwe and some members of his entourage as well as tour of the facility.