The Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration write their name in gold as the first Abia State Children Specialist Hospital named after Annemarie Jackson, built and equipped in conjunction with Abians in Diaspora, is inaugurated.
The inauguration ceremony took place on hospital grounds, strategically located opposite the Central Police Station, Bende Road, Umuahia.
Speaking at the event, His Excellency Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, who expressed his administration’s enthusiasm for the construction of the Children’s Hospital said, “The state needed to address baby and maternal mortality and improve health care delivery.”
According to the Governor, the Children’s Specialist Hospital has all of the necessary equipment to address the needs of children aged 0 to 18.
“It is the government’s responsibility to provide every Abia child with an opportunity and a fair chance to live, and this hospital is sponsored by the state government, with essential and technical partnerships and expertise from Abians in the diaspora”.
It is worthy of note that the second name, AnnaMarie Jackson Medical Centre, was chosen to honour Governor Ikpeazu’s commitment to Dr Jackson, who sponsored the importation of medical equipment that has aided the project.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, praised the Governor for providing an adequate health care system that is affordable and accessible to the citizenry.
“As indicated by the number of basic health care centres, the Health Trust Fund, the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme, and the Abia TeleHealth Initiative, among other things, the current administration has created a quality health care system.”
He added that the facility will be used to teach medical and nursing interns with a focus on Paediatrics and Child Health.
Also present at the event was the PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu who complimented the health facility as being of international level, citing the hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Dr Ngozi Ogbonna-Erondu, revealed that the facility will provide kid-centred care to children from birth to 18 years, and will be manned by well-trained child care specialists.
“Given the anticipated shortage of well-qualified personnel, Abians in Diaspora will be enlisted to provide their knowledge and expertise, which will aid in filling the gap, while equipment specifically designed for the care of children will be sourced and provided, rather than the inefficient approach of modifying adult equipment to fit their needs.”
The Project Consultant, Dr. Mrs. Edith Ugboaja, praised Gov Ikpeazu for creating a children’s hospital calling it “a great step forward to modernizing the health system”.
Dr. Ugboaja noted that the hospital will provide services such as neonatology, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory x-ray, ultrasound, health promotion and illness prevention.
Abia Online reports that the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, Deputy Governor, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu and his wife, Members of the National and State Assemblies, Members of the State Executive Council, Members of the PDP’s National and State Working Committees, and other dignitaries were present at the occasion.