Uzodimma: We’re Confronting Deficit in Health Sector Frontally

Tony Icheku in Owerri

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has commended the commitment and patriotism of medical practitioners from the State that are based in the United States of America for returning to execute a medical outreach in the State.

Uzodimma, while hosting the medical practitioners to a dinner Tuesday night, commended them for coming home to contribute their own quota to the well-being of Imo people, and reminded them that his government had been confronting the deficit in the health sector frontally since 2020, when he assumed office.

He described their gesture as heart-warming, noting that while some of their colleagues were fixated on travelling outside Nigeria to ply their trade, the visiting team of US-based doctors were looking forward to returning home to be part of efforts to make healthcare delivery in the country in general and Imo State in particular, worth the while.

The governor expressed delight in hearing that some Nigerian doctors’ resident in the US desired to come back to practice in the country and help their people contrary to the desire of some at home struggling to travel abroad.

He therefore prayed God to protect the genuine and patriotic doctors who come to Nigeria always to do charity works, noting that, “their actions translate to statesmanship, patriotism and commitment.”

He recalled that on assumption of duty in 2020, he discovered that, “80 per cent of deaths in Imo State are avoidable and as a result of lack of good medical care” hence the determination of his government to “confront the deficit in the healthcare sector frontally.”

While he promised to make the doctors’ stay in Imo a meaningful one, the governor assured that before they leave he would make effort to ensure they interface with the stakeholders in Imo State.

The Chairman of the Board on Imo Medical Mission, Dr. Stanley Okoro, commended the governor’s wisdom in bringing them back after about three years of absence.

He said the main goal of the Mission was to ensure that healthcare in Imo State was better and stronger. He added: “If the health sector in Imo State is solid there will be no need for medical missions.”

Okoro further commended the governor on his intervention in infrastructure in Imo State, particularly on roads, and singled out the quality of the road from Owerri-to-Orlu which he described as the best road that he has ever plied as a son of Orlu.

The medical outreach which is currently taking place simultaneously at the Specialist Hospital Umuguma in Owerri and the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu is slated to last for 10 days.

No less than 3500 patients with different health issues registered to be attended to by the visiting doctors in collaboration with their colleagues practising in the State.