... Recounts benefits of Relocation to Permsite, Health Minister's visit
By Uzo Ugwunze
The Chief Medical Director,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Prof Joseph Ugboaja who
described the NAUTH permanent site as the biggest hospital under construction
in West Africa has reiterated his resolve to achieve his vision of ensuring
that the facility ranks among the best three in Nigeria by year 2030.Addressing newsmen during a
post celebration of the 1st Anniversary of the official commissioning of the
Permanent site, the complete relocation of the hospital units and the maiden visit
of the Hon Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare (CMOHASW), Prof
Muhammad Ali Pate, press briefing at NAUTH, Prof Ugbaja said that the visit was
a gainful and bountiful venture.
"Presently, NAUTH
permanent site under construction is the biggest hospital in West Africa
including sports arena for recreational activities. Armed with our 10 year
strategic and development to ensure that NAUTH ranks among the top 3 best
teaching hospitals in Nigeria, my team and I embarked on a journey to transform
this hospital, enhance the quality of clinical services & medical training,
foster research and innovation and ultimately change the landscape of
Healthcare delivery in Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
After 2-3 years of actively
planning, working and evaluating alongside with our stakeholders and partners,
we have been able to create a medical complex with an installed capacity of
2000 beds and ancillary facilities including 2 oxygen plants.
The completed complexes include the 120 bed Trauma center, the 120 bed Emergency unit; 240 bed medical ward complex; 240 surgical ward complex; 100 bed Paediatric Emergency unit; 120 bed Mother & Child Complex. Other buildings include the GOPD complex, the Specialty building complex; the Radiology complex; Special treatment center and the VIP /Antenatal clinic complex.
"The commissioning of the
Permanent site last year by Mr President marked a watershed in our efforts and
further strengthened our resolve that our mission is achievable. At the time of
commissioning, we had only the clinics running. But one year down the line, we
have further completed, furnished and equipped all the hospital wards and units
including the emergency units. This involved meticulous and painstaking
planning, revenue mobilization, stakeholder engagement, spending and
evaluation".
"Therefore, the 1st year
Anniversary celebration gave us an opportunity to commission these new
completed projects, celebrate our achievements and modest progress since
commissioning, reexamine our strategies and reaffirm our commitment to our
vision".
"The success of that
working visit paid by CMOHASW to the Permanent Site of the Teaching Hospital
and the relocation of the management and operations of the hospital from the
Temporary site to the more specious Permanent site is unquantifiable and a
strategic framework carried out through a collaborative efforts between the
critical stakeholders, federal Ministry of Health, the state government and the
doggedness of the management of the health institution", said Ugboaja.
Prof. Ugboaja who stated that
the achievements and successes made by NAUTH so far are closely aligned with
the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Initiative, NHSRI which he noted was built
on four pillars.
He mentioned the four pillars
as improving governance of the health sector, enhancing population health
outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain and ensuring health security.
According to Prof. Ugboaja,
"the NHSRI, through the Compact and the Sector-Wide Approach, SWAP
emphasizes coordinated efforts between federal and state governments’
development partners and private sector entities".
"The integration ensures
that resources are effectively utilized and that there is a unified approach to
tackling healthcare challenges. The development of NAUTH exemplifies these
principles showcasing the power of strategic thinking and partnership through a
10-year development plan aimed at positioning the institutions to be among the
top three health facilities in Nigeria by 2030".
"The remarkable progress
at NAUTH has been significantly catalyzed by the visionary leadership of
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Honourable Coordinating Ministries. Their
unwavering support and strategic direction has been instrumental in fostering
an environment where ambitious projects like the NAUTH Permanent site can
flourish".
"Their commitment to
healthcare excellence in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, RHA has provided
the necessary impetus for transformative initiatives"
"Leadership, according to
Simon Sinek, Ugboaja maintained, is not about being in charge. It is about
taking care of those in your charge. This philosophy resonates deeply with
leadership shown by President Tinubu and Hon. Pate whose guidance have
empowered institutions like NAUTH to strive for excellence."
"The government's
whole-of-society approach has fostered an environment where private and public
sectors collaborate effectively to achieve common goals".
"The improvements at NAUTH
is equivalent of boosting quality healthcare through collaborative funding and
insurance coverage as well as being part of a broader strategy to boost quality
healthcare across Nigeria. FMOHASW along with its partners is ramping up
funding and extending health insurance coverage through the Basic Health Care
Provision Fund, BHCPF".
"This initiative aims at
strengthening Primary Health Care PHC systems Nationwide ensuring that even the
most remote communities have access to essential health services. The expertise
and advanced facilities at NAUTH and other secondary and tertiary care centers
will greatly benefit PHCs by providing a referral network that ensures
continuity of care. Patients can receive primary care at local health centers
and be referred to specialized facilities like NAUTH for more complex
treatments. This integrated approach enhances the overall healthcare delivery
systems, ensuring that all Nigerians receive the care they need.
He said the recent
commissioning of the NAUTH Permanent Site is not just a celebration of past
accomplishments' but a reaffirmation of our commitment to a brighter future for healthcare in Anambra state and Nigeria at large. As we look into the future,
it is clear that challenges remain that we will require ever more robust
collaboration. Continued efforts are necessary to ensure that every Nigerian
has access to quality health services.
Ugboaja therefore commended
President Tinubu, Hon. Pate, Governor Soludo's of Anambra state, former
Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, SSA to Tinubu on SDGs, Adehoke
Arelope-Adefulire, the mass media, NAUTH management team, Sir Emeka Offor,
Chief Cletus Ibeto and the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who have contributed
immensely towards repositioning NAUTH as it stands today".
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