After over two decades of inactivity, the permanent site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra State on Monday came to life as some departments of the health institution moved in.
It was indeed an exciting experience for the staffers of the hospital and their patients who were obviously happy to be part of the historical and epoch making event.
Nwaja Gloria Onyinye of the Nursing department said that it was a thing of joy to part of the movement to the permanent site.
She pointed out that the movement to the perm site was indeed a new beginning for NAUTH even as she commeneded the Management of the hospital for the giant step of moving the health institution forward.
Rev Fr (Engr) Chetenna Jude Chukwuneke of St Camillus de Lellis Chaplaincy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Okofia-Nnewi was on hand to bless the pioneer staffs and patients at NAUTH permanent site.
He said he was elated about the movement of the hospital to its permanent site noting that it was indeed a new dawn in the history of the hospital.
Rev Fr Chukwuneke commeneded the Anambra Progressives for making the medical center available to NAUTH even as he charged all affluent persons in the industrial town of Nnewi in particular and Anambra State in general to borrow a leaf from the group by donating handsomely to the full realization of the dream to move NAUTH to the permanent site.
Engr Pamela Ohanaja, Acting Head, Works Department of NAUTH said the movement of hospital to the permanent site is a very good development.
She said that the movement was indeed a dream come true for many staffers of the hospital.
“We are all happy to be here, there is excitement in the air, the patients and staffers are enjoying the fresh air and the new facilities here, I can tell you that there is no problem whatsoever, technically, with this kind of environment, the patients are bound to recover quickly.” She noted excitedly.
Also, Dr Nwankwo Henry of Department of Medicine said that the issue of relocation of NAUTH from temporary site to the permanent site has always been there for a very long time.
Dr Henry commeneded the Anambra Progressives and the management of NAUTH for the giant stride.
He noted that eight rooms are dedicated to Medicine Department at the permanent site which according to him is good for the doctors and the patients.
Dr Henry who described the movement of the hospital to the permanent site as a work in progress noted that there is need for something to be done urgently about the one kilometer road to the NAUTH’s permanent site which is not motorable, the situation of the road he said may get worse with more number of vehicles that are expected to be plying the road because of the movement to the permanent site.
He said there is also need for electrical fans to be installed in the Medical Center to backup the air conditioners because of the increase in the number of patients coming to the permanent site.
The Deputy, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) Dr Ezejiofor Ogo in his comment said that the relocation to permanent site is the best thing that has ever happened to NAUTH.
He said that the movement to the permanent site would herald a new dawn for the hospital as there is constraints of space in the temporary site.
Dr Ogo pointed out that the Department of Medicine of NAUTH actually spearheaded the movement to the permanent site.
The Deputy CMAC in his estimation said that over two hundred patients got satisfactory Medicare on the first day at the permanent site.
To ensure security of staffers and patients, Mr Jacob Agboni (SP) came into the hospital to supervise security arrangements, he said he came in on the order of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police .
SP Agboni said that a detachment of policemen which would be headed by a DSP will be mobilized to the hospital.
He said he was very impressed with the facilities at the permanent site of NAUTH.
The Facility Manager of the hospital, Mrs Nwankwo Emilia who is also the Chief Adm. Officer of NAUTH said it was indeed a dream come true for the hospital to begin her movement to the permanent site.
Mrs Nwankwo who said that she works directly under the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital, Dr Joseph Ugboaja pointed out that many doubting Thomas never believed that movement to the permanent site will ever be a reality.
“It’s a reality! We are all here now and the dream of giving our patients first class treatment in NAUTH has only just begun.” She said.
The Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) Dr Joseph Ugboaja who was seen supervising activities at the permanent site said that he felt great about the commencement of movement from the temporary site to the permanent site.
“The movement to the permanent site means a lot to us as a hospital and more so for me as a person because it’s in my tenure as CMAC that this giant step is being taken after twenty five years that NAUTH was established.
“I am excited because the movement to the permanent site offers a unique opportunity to render more services to our patients. It is our dream to make NAUTH one of top five Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria, we have started building the foundation for that and by the grace of God and the support of public spirited persons, who are expected to partner with us on PPP arrangement, we shall surely get there.” He said.
Patients who came in from far and near expressed their satisfaction for the quality treatment they got at the permanent site of NAUTH.