….As NUC Approves Africa's
State-Of-The-Art Medical College - King David University Of Medical Sciences In
Ebonyi State - Eze
Nigeria may soon be saving billions of
dollars annually from foreign health tourism which has almost become a norm
among the elites who would hurriedly catch the next flight abroad, at the
slightest manifestation of the commonest of ailments.
Chieftain of the All Progressives
Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s
Democratic Party, (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said with the National
Universities Commission NUC accreditation of the 197th University, adjudged by
analysts to be the blue chip in serenity amongst other institutions, situated
in Uburu, Ebonyi State and built by the adminstration of Engr. David Nweze
Umahi, Chairman, South/East Governors Forum and Executive Governor of
Ebonyi State, Nigeria is gradually turning into an emerging hub for medical
health tourism.
Marked for official takeoff,
September, 2021, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze who toured the new ivory tower on
his first day of projects monitoring in Ebonyi State on an official invitation
by the workaholic and enigmatic Commissioner of Information, Barr. Uchendu
Orji, to assess the wind of magical feats achieved by Governor Umahi this
past six years as the Governor of the State, said the king David Medical
University, is built to taste and is simply the best of its kind in all respects
in the entire African region.
In his first treatise on the project
which he titled, "Umahi Set to End Foreign Health Tourism, Redoubles
Efforts to Unveil World Class Medical Centre as Eze Embarks On Seven Days
Projects Tour of Gale of Projects in Ebonyi State (PART ONE)”, exposed to the
world the vision of Governor Umahi to end foreign Health Tourism by initiating
a world class Medical Centre with 24 hours power supply generated from solar,
generator and national grid. "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". 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.
With the approval by the National
Universities Commission and appointment of an erudite, outstanding Scholar and
seasoned Administrator, Professor Chigozie Jesse Uneke, as the Acting Vice
Chancellor of the University, history can be said to have been made in the
annals of provision of qualitative health care in Africa.
The smooth take off and effective
management of King David Medical Science University, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, by
His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi,
FNSE, FNATE, it can be concluded that Nigerians will soon have the best Medical
Centre in Africa.
Designed as an ultra-modern 21st
century state-of-the-art International Medical University, Chief Eze said the
King David University of Medical Sciences is masterfully crafted for
specialized manpower development in the most serene environment in virtually
all branches of medical specialties and will hinge on the highest form of
professionalism in the field of medicine and related fields while consistently
aligning with the norms and guidelines of the Nigerian National Health Policy
(NHP) and Strategy which is chiefly aimed at achieving quality health for
Nigerians.
The urgency of the need to address the
dearth of human resources for health care services in line with the realities
of the time and being in relative position with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), as pertains to health, must have informed the decision of Umahi
to embark on this project.
With a vision “to achieve the
highest form of quality manpower development for healthcare and other service
delivery for all persons irrespective of gender, race, religion, and
socio-economic status” the University has its mission statement thus:“the mission of the University is to
serve mankind with the highest form of professionalism, ethics and excellence
by training highly qualified health professionals who will work to improve
health conditions, alleviate sickness, suffering and pain through the provision
of high quality, efficient, cost-effective and integrated healthcare with
compassion and treatment.”
The University, a brainchild of Gov.
Dave Umahi, is a creation of the law of Ebonyi State, duly passed by the State
House of Assembly and accented to by the Governor and thus enjoys the status of
public institution for the provision and advancement of health care services in
Nigerian and around Africa.
Courses accredited to be offered at
the University include; Medicine & Surgery, Nursing, Medical Laboratory
Science, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Health Policy & Health Systems, Hospital
Administration, Dentistry, Optometry, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry,
Microbiology/Parasitology, Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Human Nutrition/Dietetics,
Radiography/Radiation Sciences, Traditional, Complementary and Integrative
Medicine. Others are-Industrial Physics/Astronomy, Industrial
Mathematics/Statistics, Industrial Chemistry, Applied Biology/Biotechnology and
Computer Science.
The University Teaching Hospital has
among others, the following units:-Maternal & Child Care Centre which will
undertake all aspects of maternal and child health care including women health,
pregnancy, nursing mothers, children healthcare etc; Cancer Treatment/Oncology
Centre, to undertake all aspects of cancer/oncology treatments; Eye Care
Centre, to tackle all aspects of eye care in all specialties; Dialysis Centre,
that will focus on renal management and treatment including dialysis;
Laboratory Unit: This unit will
cover the four key areas of laboratory services including medical microbiology,
haematology/immunology, chemical pathology and histopathology; Radiology Unit
to handle radiology services; Operating Theatres & Suits, for all aspects
of surgical services; Kidney & Liver Transplantation Unit,for kidney and
liver transplantation and care.
Others are:- Dialyzer Production
Plant: For the production of dialyzers and other consumables used for dialysis
centre; Oxygen Production Plant, Virology & Quarantine unit, Dental
Services Unit, Pharmacy Unit, Accident & Emergency Unit, Physiotherapy
Unit, Health Information Management Equipment & Systems Unit, Mortuary Unit
with a chapel for funeral services, Central Sterilizing Supply Department (CSSD),Workshop/Maintenance
Unit, environment, Catering/Kitchen Unit, Waste Management Unit and an
Administration Unit.
Commending Gov. Umahi for giving a
thought to the development of public health institution and addressing the
menace of medical tourism and overseas studies, Chief Eze appealed to medical
tourists within and outside Nigeria to take advantage of the ultra-modern
facilities and expertise domiciled in the hospital for sound and efficient
diagnosis and treatment of sophisticated health challenges.
The party Chief called on those
nursing a future in the medical line to think the way of King David University
of Medical Sciences for training and experience, stressing that the institution
addresses the dearth of a modern curriculum, professional training, research
and development and hands-on-equipment in some Nigerian higher institutions.
