By
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
PREAMBLE
It was a
pleasant surprise when I got a call from Barr Uchenna Orji, the workaholic
Ebonyi State Commissioner of Information, through whom I and the entire world
have read much about the magic being ignited by the incumbent Governor of
Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi in the State. The call was for me to join
him on a project/facility tour of most of the key projects this energetic and
visionary leader of this dispensation has achieved in less than six years.
Having
heard so much about the gale of projects permeating the nooks and crannies of
the once backward state, I quickly took the next available flight to Ebonyi
through Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with a conspicuous enthusiasm
to get a first hand information or better still, see things for myself.
On arrival
to the State capital, I was spontaneously buzzed with excitement and palpable
glee, and on a first thought, I had a covert argument about my whereabouts, but
my intuitive awareness of the State's geography calmed my apprehension to some
extent. I told my Chief Host that given the skepticism that has captured my
mastery of the terrain, commencing the tour from projects sited in the
outskirts of the state capital would douse my sudden muddle and help me regain
a conscious grasp of the milieu.
My host
quickly understood my predicament and after exchanging pleasantries with some
officials of the state government, we went into business.
First
Day of My Seven Days Inspection of the Wonders/Feats By Gov Umahi:
We
started-off with a visit to Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government area of the
State, about 65 km away from Abakaliki, to a project assumed to be the biggest
College of Medicine in Africa under construction. The project is the brainchild
of the Ebonyi State government under Gov. Umahi. It is being equipped with
sophisticated and latest technology and is billed to attract mass medical
tourism to Nigeria.
Indeed,
change has settled in Ebonyi. Prior to this time, visitors to the state used to
refer to Abakaliki as a mere glorified Local Council Area headquarters with a
Government House that ranked as the worst countrywide but today Governor Umahi
has turned Abakaliki to Dubai of Nigeria. I am not here to talk about Abakaliki
as I am yet to have a full glimpse of how a glorified Local Government Area
could be turned to one of the best State Capitals in Nigeria.
While in
Uburu, a small but blessed town and only town in entire Africa to produce a
sitting State Governor (Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi) and a Minister of the
Federal Republic, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu of the Federal Ministry of Technology and
Sciences. I asked my Chief Host if the town is an annex of the State Capital as
the town is full of constructed roads with 8' concrete pavement all over
lighted with Street Lights and a gigantic Flyover. Seeing my confused state the
workaholic Barr. Orji whom I wonder if he sleeps at all told me that what I am
seeing here is replicated in all the major towns of Ebonyi State and I shouted
wondering how some Governors do concentrate all the developments of their State
in one or two Local Government Areas and even ready to construct eight Flyovers
in one single Road!!
At the
site of our main visit, this was not only amazing, again, I was forced to ask
myself whether I was in a trance, or if my friend the Honourable commissioner
had cast a spell on me or age was catching up with me; and many more.
Even the
serious sick coming in contact with the array of infrastructure on display
there is bound to get better without further medical examination.
From the
records presented to me by the Governor's Senior Special Assistant SSA on
Medical Services. Dr Richard Chukwuka Nnabu, "the Medical College
after completion, will have centres of excellence in cancer management, kidney
transplant with dialysis centre, liver transplant, and other diseases. It will
have the latest diagnostic equipment that can be rated amongst the best
anywhere in the world. The technology to be employed is equally second to none.
The centre
will be manned by the best hands anywhere in the world and the structures are
classical". He said the diagnostic equipment are coming directly from the
manufacturers and almost all of them are ready. It's going to be a centre of
medical tourism, he emphasised.
The SSA
further highlighted that when the hospital becomes functional, power supply
will be 24hours as it would have power from solar, generator and national grid.
The SSA on
Medical Services further briefed me; "We also have a School of Health
which is in the
forefront of teaching people the fundamentals of total health
management thereby raising health officials that will help to manage our health
facilities. These are part of what the governor has done."
From this
out of the world edifice and State of the art complex, I was escorted to the
School of Nursing also reconstructed by the administration of Governor Umahi
situated a few kilometers to the wonder health centre where Governor Umahi’s
signature is well written. This edifice is another structure in her own class
if it doesn't stand out as the best in Nigeria.
In the
course of my inspection, I ran into a son of the soil, Hon. Emmanuel Obasi the
Deputy Principal Secretary DPS to Governor Umahi and an influential member of
the Ebonyi State Government highest ranking body the State Executive Council
who further highlighted, "The vision behind the establishment of David
Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences is to halt and reverse medical
tourism abroad; halt and reverse capital flight due to medical treatment and
management of high calibre diseases; provision of access to ultramodern medical
equipment and personnel and to expose our medical students to the best training
facilities available in the world.
The
Medical University is to house the best Medical College comprising Faculties
and Departments in all Medical and Allied Medical disciplines and best Teaching
cum Specialist Hospital comprising about 5-6 Centres of Excellence in
Medicare.
When fully
completed and deployed, the University will be the best Medical University and
Centre of Excellence in Medicare in Africa, best in West Africa, best in
Nigeria, best in Alaigbo and best in Ebonyi State. Huge kudos to His
Excellency, Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi who initiated,
started and is about to complete and inaugurate the project in less than three
years. To God be the glory."
After the
first phase of my tour, I contacted Dr. Daniel Umezurike, the amazing
Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, to give me more insight about the
magical Medical University. In response, Dr. Umezurike stated thus, "The
King David Medical University which will be a state-owned higher institution
will, apart from becoming a centre of excellence, also create employment while
generating income for the state government.
He further
stated that the Medical University, instead of becoming a burden to the state,
would add to the entrepreneurial policy agenda of the state government. This is
because it will be self sustaining. He clarified that the Medical University
will not be a private university but would work in collaboration with other
universities in the state to meet up with the health care needs of the people.
It will cater got visiting medical tourists.
More so,
the King David Medical University will be a state of the art medical tourist
centre with modern but scientific cancer screening and dialysis centre. Most of
the medical trips done abroad in Indian, London and American hospitals would
now be done in Ebonyi State. The economic gains will be highly enormous because
apart from giving affordable and quality health care services, the menace of
capital flight would be arrested and the money hitherto spent abroad would now
be channelled to the education and health care sectors of the economy.
The
world-class developmental agenda on health and education have in recent years
received priority attention. This is owing to the rising cases of healthcare
needs occasioned by discoveries of new sicknesses and diseases hitherto unknown
in human medical history. Rising cases of brain drain and poor school
enrolment arising from poor teaching and learning methods vis a vis dilapidated
education facilities have become a bane of development.
I was made
to understand that since assuming office on 29th May, 2015, Governor Umahi has
made education and health one of the priority areas in the budget and project
delivery system. And the two have always had the highest vote in yearly budget
appropriations.
In the
2021 state budget appropriation for instance, education has the highest vote
followed by the health sector.
I am glad
that my eyes have seen Africa's biggest and most trusted Medical destination
and Centre of Excellence for the treatment of Heart diseases, Liver problems,
Cancer etc.
After
eight hours spent, I retired to my hotel after being escorted to inspect the
Virology Centre situated within the Dr. Alex Ekweme Hospital Abakaliki. I
learnt that it is the State where such a facility is situated within the entire
South East used to test and treat various dreadful diseases including COVID-19
pandemic, Lazza Fever and similar deadly diseases.
From what
I have observed, Dr. David Nweze Umahi can be said to be the best Governor in
Nigeria so far health sector is concerned. By the time the Umahi University
College is ready, it will be flamboyantly scandalous for any of our leaders to
travel outside Nigeria to seek any medical help as such will amount to
encouraging corruption and promoting capital flight.
I can now
understand why the legendary, sage, great and respected world leader,
late Nelson Mandela of South Africa, once stated with Governor David Nweze
Umahi in mind: “There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a programme
that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources: those
who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease.”
I can now
understand why it seems that Governor Umahi must have been a great student
of Mohandas K. Gandhi of India, who stated through his famous quote: “It
is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver.” to influence
his vision to provide the best in the Health Sector for his people. In
agreement, Robert Alan Silverstein, stated: “Good health is one of the most
important ingredients for a happy and productive life. And, yet, many people do
not have access to health care, but live in conditions that spread disease.”
The fact remains that the administration of the Governor from what I have seen
so far wants to ensure good health for the entire Ebonyians.
With what
I have seen so far, Gov. Umahi is one of our few Leaders who wakes up everyday
just thinking on what to do to impact and affect his environment. What is
confusing about what I have seen so far is that Ebonyi State is rated amongst
the poorest State in the country of one is to consider the amount that comes
into the State through the Federal Allocation and how Governor Umahi could
embark upon such gigantic projects while most Oil influenced and rich States
are busy constructing makeshift flyovers and few kilometers roads and
disturbing the world wasting funds in media to commission such projects while
Governor is not making any noise about the great feats and revolution he has
ignited in Ebonyi State.
I will in
the next few days present my conclusion report on health facilities in Ebonyi,
maybe take on the Airport Project said to be among the best in Nigeria with
other projects that qualifies Umahi as not only a visionary but an exceptional
and proud icon of the APC led Government.
Ends
Eze
Chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and
can be reached thru either ezemediaconcept2020@gmail.com
