FMC Umuahia should be ungraded to a teaching hospital – Chibok

What is the priority of the board now it has been inaugurated? Our first priority is to make sure that this medical centre is upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital. We have every facility we can think of-in terms of structure, equipment and personnel. Based on this, I don’t see why this place cannot be […]

What is the priority of the board now it has been inaugurated?
Our first priority is to make sure that this medical centre is upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital. We have every facility we can think of-in terms of structure, equipment and personnel. Based on this, I don’t see why this place cannot be upgraded to a Federal University Teaching Hospital.                                                   

If eventually your request gets approval to become a teaching hospital, which university will it be affiliated to?
You have a state university. Presently, the Federal Government has directed that every state should have a federal university. It could be affiliated to any university, it does not matter. I know Abia State has a Federal University, that is, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture. Any of the universities in-the state can serve this purpose.

Are you saying that you are impressed with the facilities on ground?
I was at a hospital in Egypt for check up. I noticed that what I saw in the Egyptian hospital are in FMC Umuahia. I was overwhelmed when I saw the number of consultants that this medical centre has. I honestly said there is no need to go abroad for medical treatment when we can do it here at the medical centre.

What are you doing to improve federal funding for FMC Umuahia?
It is not in everything we depend on the Federal Government for funds. We are equally discussing ways to generate enough revenue to carry out our projects. We also are looking at ways to attract more funds from both the Federal Government and other agencies. There must be ways to generate funds internally. The Federal Government gives subvention, though not adequate. At the same time we have to look at other ways we can generate revenue.

Are you saying that the medical centre may have to increase its charges?
No, that is not what I am saying. It is not necessarily adjusting your charges upwards. We want to intensify our effort towards generating funds internally. There are some who still believe in traditional medicine. Even in my place, Borno, many people don’t like to go to hospital. If people are adequately informed, they will certainly come to the hospital. You can charge them little money and that will certainly increase our internally generated funds. We are not calling for increase in the charges, but we believe we will make more money when people come to the hospital for treatment even when their medical bills are still small.

 As an economist, is totally free healthcare possible in Nigeria?
 I believe it is possible if the government wants it to be. There is no doubt about that. We have the resources. So, we can provide adequate good healthcare for our people. When people are healthy, you get the best result from them.

Based on your assessment of facilities on ground, what specific project would you want to bring to federal attention?
Many of them. They told me that of HIV/AID Special Project they are embarking upon which a consultant is handling. We will also like the World Health Organization and nongovernment organisations locally and internationally to get involved. In the area of healthcare delivery section, I want the Federal Government to look into it and see how we can improve and expand on it as well as to in the area of provision of infrastructure.

What does the new board expect from staff?
We want them to get a good working relationship with the management. We expect them to work as a team so that collectively we can make this place the best medical centre in the country. We shouldn’t believe in strikes. If you have grievances, table it to the board and we will look into it. Strike is not good for a hospital that deals with human lives. If today, doctors are on strike, think about how many lives that would be lost because of such a strike.                                                              

You have interacted with the management and staff of the medical centre, what is your objective assessment of the management team led by the medical director, Dr. Abali Chukwu?
Actually, the Medical Director has tried from what we have seen. He has tried to reposition this medical centre with little resources at his disposal. We have encouraged him to do more than what he has done. We have encouraged him to do more in terms of revenue generation and push harder for more funding of the Medical Centre from the Federal Government. We have equally encouraged him to work for the expansion of the Medical Centre.
[We need federal government] assistance in funding. We would like the people and government of Abia to assist us in infrastructure development. The roads in the hospital are not very good. The State Government should assist us in that regard. I learnt there is a School of Nursing owed by the State Government within the medical centre. This makes it imperative for the State Government to assist us in the infrastructure development.