By O’star Eze

Honourable Chukwuka Onyema, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representative has resorted to handing over all health centres renovated and equiped in his constituency to the church, saying that it is the only way to ensure the centres are managed effectively and efficiently.

Speaking recently while handing over one of the renovated health centre as well as a brand new ambulance to Ogbaru Anglican Diocese, at St Luke Anglican Church, Okpoko, Onyema said that it was Mr Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State that developed the model of handing over schools and hospitals to churches as a way of ensuring their judicious use.

“It has been the case that establishments given to the local government system get mismanaged and go moribund. It was the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, that initiated the practice of handing over schools and hospitals to churches and one can attest to the fact that these institutions have experienced a radical improvement since the development.

“I realized that when the past governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, partnered with the church in schools and hospitals, they picked up.

“Normally, health centres are handed over to local governments and most times you find out that when those hospitals are handed over to the local government, the hospital facilities and vehicles end up being run down.

“So, I decided to tow the line of Peter Obi when I attracted rehabilitation and equipping of the moribund primary health centres in my constituency. I went to the church and discussed with them and they agreed they would judiciously manage the health centres and ambulance. So, we are here to hand over the ambulance we bought and the renovated and equipped primary health centre to the church.” Onyema said.

The lawmaker also disclosed that two other primary health centres have been rehabilitated and handed over to another Anglican church inside Onitsha as well as in a Catholic church which have also been given ambulances.

He expressed optimism that the churches will look after the health centres without supervision from the government.

Honourable Onyema disclosed that his intent is to “attract affordable and sustainable medical health care for the people of Okpoko.”

“Okpoko is a rural area that comprises more of middle income and low income earners. We need a health centre where the sick would not be asked to pay any fee before they can be attended to,” he said.

He said the ambulance would be dedicated to attending to emergency cases within the community.

While receiving the key to the ambulance, Rt. Revd Prosper Amah, bishop of Ogbaru Diocese said he will make available a mobile phone number that every person in Okpoko can call whenever they need the services of the ambulance.

He warned the hospital administrator not to use the ambulance for any purpose for which it is not meant.

“It should remain stand by for responding to emergency health cases,” the bishop said.

He also announced that the ambulance will not charge any patient it conveys and blessed the ambulance as well as the health centre complex.

Dr Ejikeme Okonkwo, the Chief Medical Director of the primary health centre told journalists that the primary healthcare centre was in a deplorable state before the “intervention of Honourable Chu Chu Onyema.”

He intimated that the centre would provide 24 hours emergency section; ultra sound scan machine; HIV clinic, maternal child healthcare.

“The people will now be happy as they would be coming to a cleaner, better equipped healthcare centre,” Okonkwo said.

A resident of Umuobom Street, Okpoko, Mrs Maria Ozofor who lamented difficulties encountered by pregnant women at night, asserted that the gesture would reduce their sufferings.

A mother, Mrs Chetachukwu Unamba stated that the the facility had brought quality medical service to their doorstep.

The event featured the dedication of the facility and hand over of the ambulance to the bishop of the diocese.

Source: https://onavoice.com/2018/10/13/lawmaker-partners-churches-in-primary-healthcare-delivery/

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