From Isaac Ojo, Ifeoma Ejiofor Nnewi
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra state witnessed a beehive of activities as the Nnewi Concerned Youths, Nnewi Integrity Group and staffers organized a solidarity rally for the Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the health institution, Dr Joseph Ugboaja to renew their confidence in him “in his efforts to change the narrative of the health institution to be among the Top Five in Nigeria and Africa, generally as the Ag CMD had promised.
As early as 8.00am, many workers of the health institution had lined up the street leading to the hospital with placards singing solidarity songs warning detractors to steer clear.
The Nnewi billonnaire, Dr Cletus Ibeto was among the stakeholders who paid a visit on the acting CMD.
The Nnewi Concerned Youths headed by Hon Okonkwo with their placards that had various inscriptions to indicate their support for Dr Ugboaja said that the youths were happy with the Ag. CMD’s contributions within a short period he had been incharge to the growth and development of NAUTH in a way, according to them, the hospital had never experienced before.
The youth leader noted that the movement to the permanent site of the health institution had been placed on hold for a very long time until Dr Ugboaja came on board ” with a clear and noticeable effort to change the narrative of the NAUTH in every ramification.”
Okonkwo solicited the support of all and sundry for the Ag. CMD. He said that the best option for everyone even detractors was to key in to Ugboaja’s idealogies and philosophies to make the hospital a better place for all.
Dr Ugboaja who had just received six dialysis machines for the renal center of the hospital said he was passionately committed to making NAUTH the best teaching hospital in Nigeria. He said that the renal center at NAUTH would under his watch be made the best Nigeria.
He said that the revolution had already started, adding that no department would be left out.
As the hospital is moving to its permanent site, Dr Ugboaja said some sensitive departments including the emergency unit and children’s ward would still be maintained at the temporary site to continue to serve “even though everything would also be found at the permanent site.”
As the hospital is moving to its permanent site, Dr Ugboaja said some sensitive departments including the emergency unit and children’s ward would still be maintained at the temporary site to continue to serve “even though everything would also be found at the permanent site.”
“I have the connection, I have the ideas and I have the ability with the support and help of private partners to transform this hospital to become the best in this part of the world. Many people are interested to invest in the hospital and that would be well exploited because we cannot do it alone, ” he said.
He noted that building a top flight hospital starts with providing quality equipment for the workforce and assured the members of staff that their welfare would be among his priorities as as a leader. He appealed to them that all he needed from them was to work hard to justify the management care.
Dr Ugboaja noted that the industrial town of Nnewi had the largest concentration of affluent individuals in Nigeria who were ready to invest in their homeland.
He said NAUTH would key into that opportunity and build a teaching hospital that everyone in and outside Nnewi would be proud of.
He expressed gratitude to the management and workers of the hospital, the Nnewi youths for their solidarity and gave them a firm promise that he would never fail them at any point in time.
He said that the encouragement given to him by the youths as they came had renewed his resolve to put in his best for the betterment of the youths, the entire Nnewi community, Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
He promised the youths that they would always be remembered in his administration in anyway possible.
