IMSG thumbs up OFU, DMV USA for improved community health services

By Everest Ezihe, Alaeze Ogwa

Impressed with the philanthropic provision of ultra modern health facilities and tools at Alaenyi/Alaeze Afor Ogwa primary Health Centre in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, by members of Ogwa Federated Union (OFU), DMV USA chapter, Imo State Government (IMSG) through the State Ministry of Health has thumbed up members of the Union for their concerns over the well being of their people.

Dr. Chioma Vivian Egu, who’s the Honourable Commissioner that oversees the State Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, and Health Insurance disclosed this on Wednesday during the official handing over of the medical equipments and tolls, the Union bought for the dispensary/primary health centre as she was ably represented by Mr. Kennedy Ogemdi, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

Egu pointed out that the collaborative assistance is an execution of vision, based on a collective responsibility of Ogwa sons and daughters living in DMV USA, as well as the justification of the need for diasporans engagement in the development and transformation of their ancestral home communities.

She observed that their interventions goes beyond aesthetics, thus by also equipping the historical age long dispensary/ primary health center, they have helped in the strengthening and improving the power of primary healthcare delivery services in the community.

“Quality healthcare delivery remains a priority of the Shared Prosperity administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, especially a functional, accessible and well equipped primary health centres, as it entails sustaining good health status through prevention of preventable diseases and enhancing the overall well being of the people.

“This upgraded dispensary will not only guarantee efficient health delivery but would restore the confidence policy healthcare in the grassroot level, therefore, on behalf of the Ministry, I sincerely commend the entire members and leadership of Ogwa Federated Union, DMV USA for their foresight, sacrifices, humanitarian services and unwavering commitments to the welfare of their people noting that the Union’s achievements is a justification of what government and stakeholders can attain while collaborating towards a common goal” she stated.

The Commissioner also expressed gratitude as the Ministry formally takes over the rejuvenated Health Centre so as to ensure its proper utilization with staffing of skilled man powers and maintenance.

She pointed out that the true value of the intervention will be valued by the subsequent quality of medical services delivery there, while appealing to members of the community and its environ on the need to safeguard the facilities and assist the centre through adequate patronage, which she assured will help the centre in achieving sustainability and impactfulness.

Egu re-emphasized that the State government efforts in strengthening the healthcare system, through a collaborative partnership is not after all a hoax, as the Primary Health Centre is a symbol of hope, that represents improved maternal and child care accessible health delivery in the community and its environ.

Similarly, Miss. Kosilisochukwu Ekenjoku, the Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Healthcare Services and Development Agency, also commended members of the Union for their patriotism towards the healthcare upliftment of their people.

She passionately canvassed the need for the people to register with the State government’s National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS pointing out that the benefits are enormous.

Ekenjoku further applauded members of the Union for thinking home, and most especially contributing towards the improvement of their people’s health, expressing the State government desire for peoples participatory ownership of the State Health Centres.

According to her, ” Yes, the government can do its part, but we as individuals or group, also needs to do our part.

“We need this, more than the government. It’s for us, it’s for our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and our children. I sincerely thank the community members that donated all these medical care items and equipments to the primary health center”

She further advised the community on the need to ensure maximum usage of the items and equipments, as well as their protections, so as to ensure sustainability and regular patronage.

The Executive Secretary further revealed that the concerns of her agency, is to ensure that the Primary Health Centre is adequately staffed and with regular provisions of consumables extended to them, while security of lives and properties of the facilities are solely the responsibilities of Alaeze Ogwa community and its environ.

She passionately appealed to the Local Government Chairmen and traditional rulers in the State to be committed in the security of lives and properties of their citizens, especially the primary health centers within their localities.

” Am so much appreciative and happy to be here, however am here, not on my own accord alone, but I believe, am a representative of not just the Ministry of Health nor just the Primary Health Agency, but of the result oriented Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma”

Adding his voice, Hon.Ifunanya Nwanegwo JP, the Executive Chairman of Mbaitoli Local Government Area, also applauded the members and leadership of Ogwa Federated Union, DMV USA for their patriotism towards the health care improvement of their people.

Nwanegwo also reiterated the need for the people to register with the State government National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS pointing out that the benefits are enormous.

Re-emphasising, the importance of the health care Insurance Scheme which he said cost N15,000 only as an annual registration, the Executive Chairman happily reported that his office has registered over 1,000 persons living within the council area and enjoined the Ward Councilors and community leaders to sensitize their people concerning the ongoing registration of the health insurance scheme and the benefits associated with it.

He assured the Alaeze/Alaenyi Afor Ogwa Primary Health Centre of assisting them in providing the needed skilled manpower especially qualified Medical Doctor’s serving as Corps members (NYSC), disclosing that he has discussed the matter with the State Director of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

In his welcome address, Chief Noel Osuchukwu, popularly known as Onwa Ogwa who’s the President of Ogwa Federated Union, DMV USA informed that DMV USA means members of the Union living in Washington DC, States of Maryland and Virginia all being part and parcel of United States of America.

He expressed gratitude to the distinguished personalities that were in attendance, especially the top government officials from the State and Local Government Council, Hon. Israel Nnataraonye, one time Member Imo House of Assembly, Chief Chibuzo Onukwufor from Uru Ogwa whom he said was his predecessor.

Others include Hon. Chidi Onyewuchi, Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Skills Acquisition, Hon. Dr. Lizzy Chukwuezi, 2027 Imo House of Assembly aspirant, Chief Kingsley Ejimadu, the President General Alaeze Ogwa autonomous community, Dr. Promise Okolie, the State Coordinator, APC Youth League, and Chief Anselem Oguamanam, among others.

Osuchukwu opined that the Union was passionately motivated into the improved health intervention programme based on persistent report of what he described as ignorance, carelessness and incessant reports of deaths of people over minor health challenges that the community Health Centre can efficiently and effectively handled.

He also expressed worries that so many members of the community have ignorantly died, due to poor management of high or low blood pressure, stressed induced ailments etc which he attested could have been effectively managed and the lives saved, if simple things were done before taking the patients to hospital.

The President described the health facility as an emergency health center informing that many illustrious sons and daughters of the community and its environ were born at the Center, then called Dispensary Ogwa.

Osuchukwu disclosed his persistent efforts in training the nurses working in the Centre, especially on the usage of the several health equipments and tools the Union bought for the Health Centre.

He also reported that in the course of the training, a young man hit by tipper truck was brought to the Centre, that the life of the boy was saved due to first aid treatments quickly given to him in the Centre before taking him to a near by hospital for adequate medical attention.

While circulating the inventory of the things the Union bought and donated to the Alaeze Ogwa Primary Healthcare Centre, Osuchukwu expressed happiness that his Union is also philanthropically sponsoring similar medical facilities gesture in each of the 6 autonomous communities that constitutes Ogwa Anunu Umu Mgbe ancient clan as part of his administration’s legacy projects and programmes to their ancestral community

He pointed out that before the implementation of the medical equipments and tools donation, that they did need assessment, as an essence for improvement of healthcare delivery system of each of the autonomous communities.

The President General said it point blank that the assessments were carried out with critical stakeholders in medical services within the communities as well as their community leaders.

He further said that the Union equally observed that for the past 10 years or more, that the health center has no functional pipe borne borehole water which they have restored and further repainted the entire building both in and outside.

” We equally bought and donated some essential emergency medical equipments to the Centre just to save lives. These are RD 8919 Ex-6600 watts generator, Stretcher with trolley, Oxygen Concentrator, 10 litrs Oxygen Cylinder with Trolley road Filling, while chair, 2 Nebulizer Machines, 2 automatic BP MACHINE and Accsom Monitor were also provided.

Others are Aoult weight scales, delivery bed, baby scale (automatic), 2 baby cots, hospital bed, foam for hospital bed, 2 drip stands, 2 ambu bags adult and child, 2 glucometers, 6 glucometer strip, 100 pregnancy test kits, HIV Test box containing 100 test kits, 50 HCV Test Kits, 10 digital Thermometers, 2 pulse oximeters, 25 typhoid test kits and 5 non-rebreather masks.

He pointed out that before the execution that they did assessment needs for improvement of healthcare delivery system of each of the autonomous communities with critical stakeholders in medical services within the communities as well as their community leaders.

Osuchukwu also enjoined the august visitors for an inspection of the donated medical facilities and tools, even as he lamented over lack of skilled manpower for the Centre and passionately solicited for the State government intervention in terms of deployment of skilled medical personnels.