CMD: Ziks Varsity Teaching Hospital Contributing to Healthcare Devt in Nigeria

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka 

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Prof. Joseph  Ugboaja, has said that the institution is doing its best to change the negative narrative about healthcare development in Nigeria.

Ugboaja stated this yesterday during a press conference to announce the institution’s movement to its permanent site, after moving out completely from the temporary site last week.

The Coordinator Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, was at the institution last week, during event to mark the first anniversary of the official inauguration of the permanent site.

“NAUTH is a national health facility which is contributing significantly to the growth of healthcare sector in Nigeria.

“With our movement to this new site which you can see is spacious and conducive, both for workers and patients, you will expect that our contribution to the development of the healthcare sector in Nigeria will be even more.

“At the old site, we had patients but didn’t have space, and you cannot carry the patients on your head because there was limited bed space. So sometimes, we send patients away.

“But today, we have the space we need, and even the environment is conducive for workers to give their best. The facilities are new and patients enjoy it too to the extent that some feel reluctant to go back home after they have been discharged.

“We also have state of the art facilities here, and some of the facilities are less utilized because we have shortage of manpower,” Ugboaja said.

The CMD said the reason for bringing the minister to the institution was for him to come and feel the environment  and also the facilities, and also see the need to approve the employment of news staff to man them.

“Already, we had earlier applied for a waiver and as he (minister) got back to the ministry after his visit, he recalled that waiver and has told me about it, and we know that before long, he will do something about it,” Ugboaja said.