BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Federal Government on Thursday upgraded the Onitsha General Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre.
The Minister of State for Health, Hon. Ekumankama Joseph Nkama who represented the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire performed the commissioning in Onitsha amidst cheers and jubilation
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Nkama said with the upgrading of the hospital to a Federal Medical Centre, the Federal government would soon employ more Doctors and other staff.
Hon. Nkama while commending Governor Soludo’s good governance exploited in the health sector said henceforth the Federal government will soon post fresh Doctors and other medical personnel for internship and horsemanship.
He charged the staff of the General Hospital to brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that to whom much is given is also expected.
In an address of welcome on behalf of the Anambra State government, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike thanked President Mohammadu Buhari immensely for the honour done to the people of the South East States and Anambra in particular, describing the upgrade as a parting gift to Ndigbo.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe represented Chief Benedict Onochie Emengo (Oboli Boja) expressed his profound gratitude to the government of President Mohammed Buhari for the completion of the 2nd Niger Bridge project and now the upgrading of the Onitsha General Hospital to a Federal government health institution.
In a welcome address, the Acting Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Onitsha, Dr. Ebelechukwu Anugwu said the FMC was necessitated to bridge the existing gap between primary, secondary and tertiary health care delivery in Anambra State as a whole.
She said that Onitsha General Hospital, situated at the heart of the State center of commerce, established sixty years ago by the colonial masters is the largest public health facility in the State and covers a total of 15.2 acres with one hundred and thirty five bed spaces.
Dr. Anugwu said the State government made a great deal to uplift the standard of the General Hospital with the state of the Art Kidney dialysis centre, Mammography centre, Oxygen plant under construction, standard operating theatre among others and appreciated all who contributed the success story of the hospital.
The CMD of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Joe Ugbaja promised to assist the hospital to grow.
The event attracted personnel from Federal and State Health sector, Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Archdiocese, Bishop on the Niger, Rt Rev. Owen Nwokolo represented by sub-dean, All Saints Cathedral, Venerable Samuel Ezeudo, Mr. Nonso Chukwudebelu who represented Princess Stella Odua- Senator representing Anambra North, Anambra State chapter of Nigeria Medical Association among others.
Our correspondent reports that the staff of the hospital went into jubilation when the hospital was officially commissioned and the name unveilied.