The House of Representative Committee on Health team Thursday was at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Umuahia on its oversight function and expressed their satisfaction with the level of infrastructural development at the hospital.
The Leader of the team, Rt. Hon. Amos Magaji expressed his excitement, stating “The MD has tried to build a friendly environment and then improved on the structure in the hospital.
“But overall, the most important thing is the relationship between the MD and the workers – the trade unions and the different unions of the hospital has demonstrated that he is not working alone, he is working with them.
“There is nothing you can achieve in a work environment if his people are not with you. This is the reason why he is having the successes he has recorded so far”.
Magaji, who represents Zangon Kataf/Jaba at the National Assembly further stated, “I was happy to see that the old buildings of Queen Elizabeth are still there and I said he should leave the old buildings the way they are to maintain and keep history.
“Also, I saw the new Accident and Emergency and also PPP arrangement with their Sovereign Wealth. That is fantastic. I saw their MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) working; I saw the CT (Computed Tomography) scan working.
“I therefore call on the people of Abia State that there is no reason travelling abroad. Use this people here. They are more than good for you people. The CT scan is working, the MRI is working. I think we need to take advantage of this opportunity of these facilities and use them for the betterment of our people”.
Speaking after a guided facility tour of the hospital and inspection of projects executed by the Managing Director of the centre, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, the federal lawmaker Nigerians pleaded with Nigerians to support the healthcare system in Nigeria.
Expressing his delight on what he saw, Rt. Hon. Magaji said, “I also have found well-spirited individuals that have demonstrated their responsibilities by contributing to the growth of this institution
“He (the FMC MD) has shown me some of the donations that were given by private individuals to this hospital. I want to thank anyone that has contributed, even if it is a stethoscope, to this hospital. We say thank you and we are calling on Nigerians to support the healthcare system in Nigeria. Those that can as well, contribute, building, equipment, I appreciate them. The hospital is open for many well-spirited Nigerians to help grow the sector in this country”.
He used the opportunity to express his satisfaction over the performance of the hospital Managing Director, stating, “By the time we are coming here again, we ought to see an improvement in many facilities. There are also some facilities that are awaiting equipping and launching. By the grace of God, we are coming back here to see the launch of those wards and then of course of importance is the NHIS building which is very important to this institution and for the general running of this hospital” and assured that he will take the success story of the FMC, Umuahia Managing Director down to Abuja.
Addressing heads of units and unions later, Rt. Hon. Magaji recalled the federal government declaration of state of emergency on the health sector, stating, “We are all passionate and want a change in this country”
He reminded the hospital management and staff that people are suffering and therefore should be taken as psychiatric patients due to some irrational behaviours occasioned by hardship and should therefore treat them well, advising, “Let us build FMC Umuahia as a family and friendly one”.
Responding, the Managing Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi assured that he will continue to work harder to ensure the hospital meets world standard and help, reduce medical tourism.
