The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora has stated that the health sector has been the greatest beneficiary of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister made this statement while commissioning yet another set of laudable projects at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, (NOHE) Enugu State on the 10th of December, 2021. It may be recalled that in the last couple of months the Minister had commissioned over 60 projects at various FMCs and Specialty Hospitals across the country.
Dr. Mamora disclosed that what is been witnessed today is a testament of the Federal Government, Civil Society and well meaning individuals effort geared towards the improvement of our Health Institutions. “When we look at COVID, let us not focus on the negative aspect all the time, let us also see the good in it. Some of the projects commissioned here today are a positive dividends of the COVID-19 pandemic. Take for example, prior to COVID we had just 4 Molecular Laboratories in Nigeria but as at today we have over 120 Molecular Laboratories in the country both government and private sector.”
He went further to say that before the onset of the pandemic, our Institutions never had Molecular Laboratories but right now virtually all the Federal Tertiary Institutions, Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres do have Molecular Laboratories, Intensive Care Units and Isolation Wards.
Some of the PPE’s that we use including the face mask and hand sanitizers is being manufactured locally now, we have imbibed the use of telemedicine to have online engagements in terms of capacity building, workshops or seminars. All these he said, reflect the massive intervention the Federal Government has made in our Tertiary Health Institution across the Federation to curtail the ravaging spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, so its not all bad stories.
Dr. Mamora expressed delight with how the hospital judiciously applied funds to execute this lofty projects, thereby adding value to healthcare delivery of the institution, which shows a complete departure from previous experiences where capital projects are poorly funded and grossly under released. “This is an eloquent testimony of the commitment of the present Federal Administration’s resolve to attaining infrastructural development.”
The Minister thanked the Enugu State Government, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, the Smile Train International, HRH Eze Godwin Okeke Foundation and well meaning Nigerians who have assisted the hospital in one way or the other and beckoned on others to emulate them.
The commissioned projects include; An Intensive Care Unit (ICU), General Out-Patient Department and Specialty Clinics, Molecular Laboratory, Modular and Kids OR, Radiology Block, Spinal Injury Ward, Isolation Ward, Internal Road Network and a renovated Chief Emeka Offor Amenity Ward.
The State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Obi Ikechukwu said healthcare is at the front bunner of the attention of the Government of the State. “At no greater time is this a good policy or strategy of the government than now when the COVID-19 pandemic has made many government realize the importance of healthcare. The project commissioned today gives us further confidence in the health landscape of Enugu State. Healthcare delivery is a team work and we in Enugu State will continue to create the enabling environment for efficient healthcare delivery that will facilitate referral within and outside the State.”
Earlier, the Medical Director, NOHE, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe attributed the hospitals success story to a combination of factors which include; dedication, commitment and altruism of the Board and Management towards changing the narrative of the hospital; excellent and constructive Labour Union-management relationship; Federal Government COVID-19 Intervention in Tertiary Hospitals; goodwill from Philanthropist and the Enugu State Government.
He informed that the hospital explored inter-sectoral collaborations through which they were able to secure intervention projects from FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in rehabilitating of some segments of its internal roads.
Signed
Blessing Efem
for: Olusegun Adetola (Head Media & Public Relations)
