CMAC, NAUTH Calls For More Strategic Partnership For Movement To Permanent Site

Isaac Ojo

*As House Committee on Health Institutions Visits NAUTH.

The CMAC, Dr Ugboaja Joe has called for more strategic partnership towards the movement of the hospital to the permanent site
He made this call during the visit of the House of Reps Committee on Health Institutions Tuesday visited Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi on Tuesday as part of their oversight functions.

At the occasion whose main feature was the visit to the hospital’s permanent site, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Dr Pascal Obi, stated that there is need to prioritize some of the on-going projects in permanent site of the hospital for faster completion and movement into the permanent site, saying that having too many projects going on at the same time at the site will delay the completion and eventual movement.

“Our job does not end at making sure that government approves money for hospitals, in includes making sure that money released are properly utilized by the institutions.

“We have seen many buildings springing up here at the same time none completed, and we have also seen the hospital operating from what looks like makeshift houses, there is need to immediately complete some projects at the permanent site.

“We have therefore told the CMD and his management that in this year 2021 budget he should make sure that construction works going on here are phased, let them come in phases so that when money is released, you concentrate on a few to be able to move into the permanent site.

“You prioritize the projects to make sure that funds are used to get projects completed to be able to move into the permanent site so that more fundings can come from both Federal Government, individuals and organizations, this is not only the institutions we have we have over eighty nine of them.”

The Committee however promised that their visit is not going to be business as usual promising that will make a difference.

In his address, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe enumerated some of the problems of the institution as, poor funding, outsourced services which are not budgeted, low overhead for running the hospital, which some times are carried over in the budget and high cost funding electricity.

“We are running the hospital at a loss particularly this period of COVID-19′ some times we think of not handling such cases but we cannot because is part of our job, what we lose economically from handling COVID-19 patients is more than what we gain.” Igwegbe noted

Other committee member on the visit were, Hon. Samuel Adejare, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ben Kalu, Chairman House Committee on Media, Hon. Amos Nagaji, Hon. Yinusa Akintola, Hon. Musa Bagos, Hon. Kingsley Chinwe, and Director/Clerk of the Committee, Mr Emenalo Boniface.

Fielding questions from members of press after the visit, the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Dr Ugboaja Joseph praised the committee for making efforts to visit the hospital, even in this period of the covid-19 pandemic. He expressed the confidence that the Hon Obi led committee will greatly facilitate the movement of the hospital to the permanent site.

The CMAC, who is a key member of the Board committee on movement to the permanent site calls for more strategic partnership with all stakeholders towards the movement of the hospital to the permanent site.
He thanked all the good spirited individuals and corporate bodies who have partnered with the hospital and urged them to brace up to the current moves to transform the hospital to a world class health institution and an Africa center of medical tourism. According to him, this vision starts with the movement of the hospital to the permanent site.