Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube Tumblr LinkedIn RSS
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Donate
    • Forum
    • Contact
    Login
    InfoStride NewsInfoStride News
    • Home
    • Business
    • Celebrity
    • Crime
    • Nigeria
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • More
      • COVID-19
      • Editor’s Picks
      • Health
      • Opinions
      • Press Releases
      • World
    Subscribe
    InfoStride NewsInfoStride News
    Home»Opinions»Governor Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector: An Eye-Witness Account – Part I 

    Governor Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector: An Eye-Witness Account – Part I 

    Opinions By AdminMay 21, 2021No Comments11 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit VKontakte

    It was a pleasant surprise when I got a call from Barrister Uchenna Orji, the workaholic Ebonyi State Commissioner of Information, through whom I and the entire world have read much about the magic being ignited by the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi in the State. The call was for me to join him on a project/facility tour of most of the key projects this energetic and visionary leader of this dispensation has achieved in less than six years.

    Governor Dave Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector
    Governor Dave Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector

    Having heard so much about the gale of projects permeating the nooks and crannies of the once backward state, I quickly took the next available flight to Ebonyi through Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with a conspicuous enthusiasm to get first-hand information or better still, see things for myself.

    On arrival to the State capital, I was spontaneously buzzed with excitement and palpable glee, and on first thought, I had a covert argument about my whereabouts, but my intuitive awareness of the State’s geography calmed my apprehension to some extent. I told my Chief Host that given the scepticism that has captured my mastery of the terrain, commencing the tour from projects sited in the outskirts of the state capital would douse my sudden muddle and help me regain a conscious grasp of the milieu.

    My host quickly understood my predicament and after exchanging pleasantries with some officials of the state government, we went into business.

    First Day of My Seven Days Inspection of the Wonders/Feats By Gov Umahi:

    We started off with a visit to Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State, about 65 km away from Abakaliki, to a project assumed to be the biggest College of Medicine in Africa under construction. The project is the brainchild of the Ebonyi State government under Gov. Umahi. It is being equipped with the sophisticated and latest technology and is billed to attract mass medical tourism to Nigeria.

    Indeed, change has settled in Ebonyi. Prior to this time, visitors to the state used to refer to Abakaliki as a mere glorified Local Council Area headquarters with a Government House that ranked as the worst countrywide but today Governor Umahi has turned Abakaliki to Dubai of Nigeria. I am not here to talk about Abakaliki as I am yet to have a full glimpse of how a glorified Local Government Area could be turned to one of the best State Capitals in Nigeria.

    While in Uburu, a small but blessed town and only town in entire Africa to produce a sitting State Governor (Engr. Dr David Nweze Umahi) and a Minister of the Federal Republic, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu of the Federal Ministry of Technology and Sciences. I asked my Chief Host if the town is an annexe of the State Capital as the town is full of constructed roads with 8′ concrete pavement all over lighted with Street Lights and a gigantic Flyover. Seeing my confused state the workaholic Barr. Orji whom I wonder if he sleeps at all told me that what I am seeing here is replicated in all the major towns of Ebonyi State and I shouted wondering how some Governors do concentrate all the developments of their State in one or two Local Government Areas and even ready to construct eight Flyovers in one single Road!!

    At the site of our main visit, this was not only amazing, again, but I was also forced to ask myself whether I was in a trance, or if my friend the Honourable commissioner had cast a spell on me or age was catching up with me; and many more.

    Even the serious sick coming in contact with the array of infrastructure on display there is bound to get better without a further medical examination.

    Governor Dave Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector
    Governor Dave Umahi’s Debonair Taste for the Health Sector

    From the records presented to me by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant SSA on Medical Services. Dr Richard Chukwuka Nnabu, “the Medical College after completion, will have centres of excellence in cancer management, kidney transplant with a dialysis centre, liver transplant, and other diseases. It will have the latest diagnostic equipment that can be rated amongst the best anywhere in the world. The technology to be employed is equally second to none.

    See also  COVID-19 Global Update: Death Toll reaches 709,158 and more than 18.92m confirmed cases as of 5th August 2020

    The centre will be manned by the best hands anywhere in the world and the structures are classical”. He said the diagnostic equipment is coming directly from the manufacturers and almost all of them are ready. It’s going to be a centre of medical tourism, he emphasised.

    The SSA further highlighted that when the hospital becomes functional, the power supply will be 24hours as it would have power from the solar, generator and the national grid.

    The SSA on Medical Services further briefed me; “We also have a School of Health which is in the forefront of teaching people the fundamentals of total health management thereby raising health officials that will help to manage our health facilities. These are part of what the governor has done.”

    From this out of the world edifice and State of the art complex, I was escorted to the School of Nursing also reconstructed by the administration of Governor Umahi situated a few kilometres to the wonder health centre where Governor Umahi’s signature is well written. This edifice is another structure in her own class if it doesn’t stand out as the best in Nigeria.

    In the course of my inspection, I ran into a son of the soil, Hon. Emmanuel Obasi the Deputy Principal Secretary DPS to Governor Umahi and an influential member of the Ebonyi State Government highest-ranking body the State Executive Council who further highlighted, “The vision behind the establishment of David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences is to halt and reverse medical tourism abroad; halt and reverse capital flight due to medical treatment and management of high calibre diseases; provision of access to ultramodern medical equipment and personnel and to expose our medical students to the best training facilities available in the world.

    The Medical University is to house the best Medical College comprising Faculties and Departments in all Medical and Allied Medical disciplines and best Teaching cum Specialist Hospital comprising about 5-6 Centres of Excellence in Medicare.

    When fully completed and deployed, the University will be the best Medical University and Centre of Excellence in Medicare in Africa, best in West Africa, best in Nigeria, best in Alaigbo and best in Ebonyi State. Huge kudos to His Excellency, Engr. Dr David Nweze Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi who initiated, started and is about to complete and inaugurate the project in less than three years. To God be the glory.”

    After the first phase of my tour, I contacted Dr Daniel Umezurike, the amazing Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, to give me more insight into the magical Medical University. In response, Dr Umezurike stated thus, “The King David Medical University which will be a state-owned higher institution will, apart from becoming a centre of excellence, also create employment while generating income for the state government.

    He further stated that the Medical University, instead of becoming a burden to the state, would add to the entrepreneurial policy agenda of the state government. This is because it will be self-sustaining. He clarified that the Medical University will not be a private university but would work in collaboration with other universities in the state to meet up the health care needs of the people. It will cater got visiting medical tourists.

    More so, the King David Medical University will be a state of the art medical tourist centre with a modern but scientific cancer screening and dialysis centre. Most of the medical trips done abroad in Indian, London and American hospitals would now be done in Ebonyi State. The economic gains will be highly enormous because apart from giving affordable and quality health care services, the menace of capital flight would be arrested and the money hitherto spent abroad would now be channelled to the education and health care sectors of the economy.

    See also  Muhammadu Buhari Can Rule Till 2023 - Samuel Ortom

    The world-class developmental agenda on health and education have in recent years received priority attention. This is owing to the rising cases of healthcare needs occasioned by discoveries of new sicknesses and diseases hitherto unknown in human medical history. Rising cases of brain drain and poor school enrolment arising from poor teaching and learning methods vis a vis dilapidated education facilities have become a bane of development.

    I was made to understand that since assuming office on 29th May 2015, Governor Umahi has made education and health one of the priority areas in the budget and project delivery system. And the two have always had the highest vote in yearly budget appropriations.

    In the 2021 state budget appropriation, for instance, education has the highest vote followed by the health sector.

    I am glad that my eyes have seen Africa’s biggest and most trusted Medical destination and Centre of Excellence for the treatment of Heart diseases, Liver problems, Cancer etc.

    After eight hours spent, I retired to my hotel after being escorted to inspect the Virology Centre situated within the Dr Alex Ekweme Hospital Abakaliki. I learnt that it is the State where such a facility is situated within the entire South East used to test and treat various dreadful diseases including COVID-19 pandemic, Lazza Fever and similar deadly diseases.

    From what I have observed, Dr David Nweze Umahi can be said to be the best Governor in Nigeria so far the health sector is concerned. By the time the Umahi University College is ready, it will be flamboyantly scandalous for any of our leaders to travel outside Nigeria to seek any medical help as such will amount to encouraging corruption and promoting capital flight.

    I can now understand why the legendary, sage, great and respected world leader, late Nelson Mandela of South Africa, once stated with Governor David Nweze Umahi in mind: “There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a programme that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources: those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with a terminal disease.”

    I can now understand why it seems that Governor Umahi must have been a great student of Mohandas K. Gandhi of India, who stated through his famous quote: “It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver.” to influence his vision to provide the best in the Health Sector for his people. In agreement, Robert Alan Silverstein, stated: “Good health is one of the most important ingredients for a happy and productive life. And, yet, many people do not have access to health care, but live in conditions that spread disease.” The fact remains that the administration of the Governor from what I have seen so far wants to ensure good health for the entire Ebonyians.

    From what I have seen so far, Gov. Umahi is one of our few Leaders who wake up every day just thinking about what to do to impact and affect his environment. What is confusing about what I have seen so far is that Ebonyi State is rated amongst the poorest State in the country of one is to consider the amount that comes into the State through the Federal Allocation and how Governor Umahi could embark upon such gigantic projects while most Oil influenced and rich States are busy constructing makeshift flyovers and few kilometres roads and disturbing the world wasting funds in media to commission such projects while Governor is not making any noise about the great feats and revolution he has ignited in Ebonyi State.

    I will in the next few days present my conclusion report on health facilities in Ebonyi, maybe take on the Airport Project said to be among the best in Nigeria with other projects that qualify Umahi as not only a visionary but an exceptional and proud icon of the APC led Government.


    Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a Media Consultant, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate

    COVID-19 Pandemic Dave Umahi David Nweze Umahi Lazza Fever
    Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Reddit Tumblr VKontakte Email LinkedIn

    Related Posts

    UK PM Rishi Sunak sacks Conservative Party chief over tax penalty row

    Jan 30, 2023

    I’ll hit PDP national leadership Tuesday – Wike

    Jan 30, 2023

    Tinubu’s gaffes embarrassing, his handlers becoming a cabal – Atiku

    Jan 30, 2023

    2023: PDP condemns attack on Buhari in Kano, tackles Tinubu

    Jan 30, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Get Social with Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter 6.5K
    • Pinterest 93
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Latest Posts

    UK PM Rishi Sunak sacks Conservative Party chief over tax penalty row

    Jan 30, 2023

    Hold On Tight To Those You Consider The One – Vee

    Jan 30, 2023

    Don’t Expect Any Signings After Gakpo – Klopp

    Jan 30, 2023

    Stop Slapping Money On People’s Face All In The Name Of Spraying – Iyanya

    Jan 30, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest breaking news straight into your inbox!

    Random News

    Korede Bello Insists He’ll Perform ‘Godwin’ In Church Again If Invited

    Apr 16, 2015

    Liverpool Deserves Everton’s Respect – Lampard

    Apr 23, 2022

    Residents throw Weights behind Governor Aregbesola, say Opposition lacks Capacity to Compete with Him

    Oct 16, 2017

    Trunity Holdings Announces Third Generation eLearning Platform Architecture for Fall School Year Release

    Jul 1, 2014

    InfoStride News delivers the latest breaking news, Nigeria news, world news and top stories on business, celebrity, entertainment, politics, sports, technology and more. Experience the best of in-depth coverage, special reports, football highlights, political opinions, crime watch, celebrity gossips etc.

    GooglePlay Store Button

    Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism

    Credible journalism involves a lot of efforts and money; and can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. We need your support to continue offering free access to our loyal readers and visitors like you.

    Click here to Donate

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube Tumblr LinkedIn RSS
    • Our Terms
    © 2023 InfoStride News. All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Continue with Facebook
    Continue with Google
    Continue with Twitter
    Lost password?