AMIDST FANFARE, AWGBU PROGRESS UNION, LAGOS BRANCH, COMMISSION MULTIMILLION NAIRA HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE

Yesterday 7th of April 2021, was a day of celebration and thanksgiving at Awgbu in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State as the community trooped out in fanfare to commission a state of the art Hospital building and diagnostic laboratory built by the Lagos Branch of the Awgbu Progess Union at the Awgbu Referral Hospital, Akwuabor. The hospital building which began a year ago is equipped with a diagnostic laboratory with both rivate and public wards.

Speaking during the event, Alloysius Okoyenta, the Chairman of the Awgbu Progress Union, Lagos Branch praised the commitments of his members in seeing to the timely completion of the project, he further urged them not to relate in their service to community and to always avail themselves to the service of Awgbu, saying it's a worthy call to duty. He further added that the Lagos Branch of the APU will continue to put the progress of Awgbu above any other consideration, while also urging other branches to take a cue from the Lagos APU and invest in the Development of the town.

In the same line, the Facilitator of the project Okey Ezibe stated that Awgbu will develop exponentially if more individuals continue to contribute to the development of the town no matter how small their contributions are. He called on Awgbu sons and daughters to rise up to the challenge and leave Awgbu better than they met it so that the next generation would be proud of their past. He used the opportunity to intimate the public about the plan to begin the next phase of the project which is the construction of a residency for the doctors and nurses at the hospital, saying that the plan was to upgrade the hospital to a general hospital in a few months time.

The Chairman Committee on Works for the Project, Mark Anosike noted that this project is the first of its kind in the history of the town and the speed of completion can't be matched anywhere else. According to him, the foundation laying ceremony for the project took place in September 2020 while actual construction began in December and by September 2021 the project has been delivered and all needed equipments fitted.

The Doctor in charge of the Health Centre, Dr. Ezedani acknowledged the contributions of the Lagos Branch of the APU, saying that they have increased the capacity of the hospital to do more and they can now take more patients. He also thanked them for equipping the diagnostic laboratory of the hospital, stressing that they will no longer have to send patients to other towns to conduct medical tests as the Lagos Branch of the APU have provided them with the capacity to carry out such basic tests at the Akwuabor Referral Hospital.

Earlier, the Awgbu Growth and Development Initiatives( AGDI) , a group committed to the development of Awgbu Town, organised a medical outreach at the Healthcentre, offering free medical care to over 200 persons, mostly the elderly. The group also donated a completely fitted Ambulance to the hospital. The coordinator of the group, Emeka Owoh said that the group's contribution at the moment is just a tip of the iceberg of what they would offer to the town In the coming months. He further used the opportunity to call on well meaning members of Awgbu community, passionate about development to join the group.

Commissioning the project, the commissioner for Health Anambra State, Vincent Okpala accompanied by Director, The Director, Primary Healthcare at Orumba North Local Government Area, Dr. Chike Ohamaobi promised to support the people of Awgbu to ensure the smooth running of the hospital as the project matches with the goal of his ministry in providing adequate healthcare to everyone in the state.

The Awgbu Healthcentre, Akwuabor was built in 1956 by the community.

Dignitaries present include, the Caretaker Chairman of the APU, Joe Onwuchekwe, its Secretary, Oge Ezeajuhi, The Onowu of Awgbu, Emma Ogboh, The Igwe In-Council and a host of others.n

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