Established by the Anambra State of Nigeria ( ASN) Edict
Number10 of 1988 and subsequent takeover by the Federal Government by Decree 68
of September 10, 1922, as a Federal Teaching Hospital, NAUTH has operated since
then from its temporary structure.
Five chief medical directors who served at the helm in the
teaching hospital all tried but could not realise the vision of moving to the
permanent structure but rather contended with limited space and some
dilapidated structures at the temporary site.
We gathered that when the sixth chief medical director of
the tertiary health institution, Dr. Joseph Ugboaja, came on board, he made a
vow that the permanent site must become a reality, reasoning that his strategic
vision of repositioning the hospital to be in tune with a 21st century
state-of-the art institution could not be realised in the temporary site.
Ugboaja, who shared the same vision as the NAUTH board’s
chairman, Chief Ezekiel Afunkoyo, went to work. Pooling the necessary contacts
and hard work, the 30-year-old jinx was
broken and the permanent site became a reality with the provision of several
buildings, infrastructure and medical equipment within two years.
During the ceremony to open the place last weekend, many who
knew the physical condition of the permanent site before now as vast hectares
of land with thick bush surrounding one lone uncompleted building were
surprised to see a totally transformed modern hospital with many new
architectural masterpieces.
Afunkoyo, who spoke like a fulfilled man during the
inauguration, recalled that the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenenth Orizu,
had passionately pleaded with the board during their courtesy call to his
palace years ago to make necessary efforts to move the hospital to the
permanent site and make it functional in his lifetime.
He expressed satisfaction that the legendary monarch’s wish
and earnest desire had been granted
“The journey to today’s event was a long and tortuous one,
starting from insisting that the right things were done to the battle and
struggle for the leadership of the hospital. Since its inception, more than 30
years ago, the hospital has operated from its temporary site, which has very
limited space for proper patient care and future expansion and, as a result,
lots of patients do not find space for admission and management and are forced
to seek care elsewhere. This is the reason we resolved as a board to do
everything possible to move the hospital to the permanent site, a decision that
has taken a strong root today,” he said.
Ugboaja, in a speech titled “NAUTH, making of a medical mega
city,” described the inauguration as the culmination of years of planning,
designing and construction, which has resulted in the creation of
state-of-the-art medical facilities that will enable them to provide
world-class care to patients and facilitate the achievement of their vision to
make NAUTH rank among the best hospitals in Africa.
He said: “Our new hospital buildings and the beautiful
environment represent more than just physical structures. They are a testament
to our commitment to excellence in healthcare delivery, to the tireless efforts
of our staff and to the unwavering support of our partners and
communities. The buildings themselves
have been designed with the utmost care and attention to details to ensure that
they are functional, efficient and welcoming to all who visit.
“But the true value of these buildings lies in what they
represent, the potential to save and improve the lives of countless individuals
who will walk through our doors seeking medical care. They represent a safe
haven for the sick and the vulnerable, a place where they can find comfort,
compassion and hope in the face of adversity.”
Ugboaja also recognised and appreciated the efforts of the
office of the senior special assistant to the President on Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) for infrastructure support to the hospital, efforts of
other individuals like the director, Budget Office of the Federation, Pastor
Ben Akabueze, and businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto.
He disclosed that Ibeto built many projects at the
hospital’s old site and has also committed to the provision of 10 buildings at
the permanent site as staff quarters.
He said he recognised the fact that, in the face of
dwindling government resources, increasing cost of doing business and
diminishing power of the patients to pay bills owing to unfavaourable
macroeconomic environment, there was need for partnerships and collaborations
in order to build the needed infrastructure and acquire the needed skills to
actualise its vision.
Shortly before cutting the tape to inaugurate the permanent
site and various structures in the hospital, the senior special assistant to
the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke
Orelope-Adefulire, expressed delight
that Anambra people have benefited from President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment
to the September 2015 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) where the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development was adopted.
She said the facilities at NAUTH’s permanent site were among
many other healthcare facilities that were provided, rehabilitated, remodelled,
constructed or equipped by the office of the SSA to the President on SDGs
across different states of the federation.
She said Mr. President made commitments to continue to take
Nigeria out of poverty and this has been extended to the new administration to
do the same so that all can achieve prosperity together.
She noted that NAUTH was in a state of disrepair years back but the federal government is now poised to change the narrative through the resolve to provide new facilities in the hospital with the new accident and emergency building, the renal building, the new ward complex in Block A and B and another 100-bed mother-and-child centre in Block B and C.
The SSA to the President pledged continuity with the new
administration in the country to ensure that ongoing works will be completed
and new ones initiated.
The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, represented by
the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam
Obidike, expressed excitement over the developments at NAUTH, noting that such
was in line with the commitment of his administration to end medical tourism.
He praised Ugboaja’s vision to not only make the permanent
site of NAUTH workable but also
putting facilities in place like
the new
oxygen plant built in the
hospital which he said will save cost,
save lives and promote efficiency in healthcare services.
“We thank the President for this historic event, which
started over two decades ago. Buildings, equipment and structure do not make a
hospital, what makes a hospital is the quality of services being rendered and
we will continue to partner with relevant institutions to ensure enhanced
service delivery,” the governor said.
Facilities inaugurated at the permanent site included the
accident and emergency building, paediatric emergency complex, special
treatment ventre, specialty clinic and its landscaping, molecular laboratory,
mother and childcare building, radiology building, general outpatient
department building, oxygen plants, trauma centre and road network, among
others.