SIR: Founded many years ago, Amaku General Hospital, (now Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka), gained prominence due to the expertise of most of the doctors and nurses. Their selfless services contributed immensely to the successes achieved in the hospital. But that was in the past. At a point things began to turn upside town, perhaps, due to unfavourable government’s policies, or rather, politicization of human lives. The basic demands of the hospital were not met; dilapidated and decayed hospital equipment was never replaced; the quality and quantity of the drugs brought to the hospital became somehow questionable.
Some nurses and doctors, as their own reaction to government’s apparently callous actions, began showing lackadaisical attitude towards the affairs of the patients. Even when a medical doctor was the governor of Anambra State, the doctors went on strike after so many years of tears to draw the government’s attention which fell on deaf ears. Of course, death rate increased and some patients who cannot afford private hospital services were left to their fate. Those who knew the hospital before now can attest to this.
The hospital from 2007 or so downwards could not boast of at least one healthy structure or facility. Patients and indeed good Anambrarians let ‘wild’ their voices in plea to the government to no avail.
To be honest, the current government of Mr. Peter Obi deserves commendation, at least, counting on what he has achieved at the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka. Igbo adage avers that when you commend someone for a job well done, he would be fortified with enough courage to do more! When I visited the hospital recently, I could not help but shrug in awe over what I saw. Yes! If one calls it one of the wonders of Anambra, it would certainly not be in error. Multibillion naira, gigantic buildings are on ground. There are over 15 of them that are completed and others springing up. The quality of drugs sent to the hospital is sound as captured in the words of some patients I interacted with.
It is not that there are no few things which need to be attended to; but whoever sees the truth should ‘vomit’ it. As at the time I visited the area, there were series of work going on. The massive compound was being beautified and trees were being planted to check erosions and as windbreaks to preserve the new structures. More importantly, the teaching hospital secured accreditation through the relentless efforts of the same man who made it a teaching hospital, or rather, paved way for that. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ezeobi Ifeanyi has equally been praised. They said the man works hard as if it is his personal hospital. However, the patients and indeed, concerned Anambrarians are in tears, not of pain or anguish, but of joy. Honesty demands that he who did well should be commended.
• Odogwu Obinna
Awka
