Abia to Curb Maternal Mortality with Ukwa East General Hospital

–         Traditional Ruler donates 100 plots of land for project

Boniface Okoro in Umuahia 

The Abia State Government has commenced construction of a General Hospital in Ohanku Ndoki of Ukwa East Local Government Area to curb maternal mortality in the state.

Absence of a General Hospital in the local government since its creation over two decades has ensured that Abia retained a spot on Nigeria’s maternal mortality chart.  

Indigens of the area went wild with excitement during the ground breaking ceremony, with the traditional ruler who donated 100 plots of land for the hospital project, saying it would stimulate their local economy and quicken physical development of the area.

Performing the flag off ceremony of the ultra-modern General Hospital, Governor Alex Otti said it was in fulfilment of his administration’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to every nook and cranny of the state. 

Governor Otti also noted the establishment of the hospital aligns with his vision of building a responsive and inclusive health system capable of meeting the needs of rural communities. 

He commended Eze Chibuzor Chinyere for donating the land for the hospital project.

His Royal Highness, Eze Chinyere, the traditional ruler of the host community, Ikwuorie Autonomous Community, as well as the Founder and General Overseer of OPM, said he donated the land, which he had acquired for other purposes, to save the lives of his people.

 “I am excited because God sent Governor Alex Otti to come and resurrect the entire situation. Healthcare in Ukwa East is dead. We have a health centre but it is not existing, it is only cockroach, rats and reptiles that are there,” he said.

The monarch noted that the hospital would save lives.

“I bought the land for building of companies, but life is more important. So, when I saw the need, I decided to give out 100 plots. This gesture is to secure the lives of my people and as the king of my people, I believe that the lives of my people are more important,” he said.

The royal father expressed optimism the hospital would quicken development and improve the local economy. 

“This is a General Hospital and it will attract ancillary services. So many people are going to open pharmacy stores around, hotels will open and more houses would be built for commercial purposes. The Hospital is going to bring transformation to this community. My people, particularly the youths, are happy and they will protect the facility,” he promised.

The member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, said it was the first time Ukwa East people were being remembered for such a big project since 1999 and pledged to support its realisation.

“My message to the people of Ohanku is that they should be very grateful to God for producing somebody like Apostle Chibuzor, and for the governor who has also deemed it fit to flag off this project,” the federal lawmaker said.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who is from the area, expressed happiness over the project, saying, “before now, our people used to travel several kilometers to go and look for healthcare in a private facility at Azumini.

Imagine when women are in labour and have to travel that far. “Before now we used to have high incidence of infant mortality and maternal mortality, but all these things will come to an end with this General Hospital.”

His Health counterpart, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, revealed that “maternal mortality of Ukwa East is one of the highest in Abia and one of the notorious local governments in the country that are responsible for 50% of the rate in the country. 

“Even though Abia is one of the states with low mortality rate compared to other states, but there are three local governments that have high mortality rate, Ukwa East is one of them.”

He added that “the area is without health facilities and when Otti heard this, he made a firm promise that he will place a world-class General Hospital here that will have modern facilities, skilled manpower and fully-equipped to bring down the maternal mortality.”

A former Senate President, and Chairman of People’s Democratic Party   Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, commended Governor Otti for prioritising healthcare infrastructure above political party and political leanings., saying he was impressed with the governor’s holistic approach to healthcare delivery.