The joy of residents of Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State knew no bounds following the donation of some medical facilities by a lawmaker from the area, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema.
Okpoko is a densely populated community that lacks basic health institution to cater for the needs of the citizenry.
Onyema, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, had renovated some primary health Centre in the area, one of which he handed over to the Anglican church in the area, as well as a brand new ambulance.
The locals, particularly the pregnant women and those suffering from one ailment or another, were full of appreciation to the benefactor for providing quality and affordable medicare to them.
A resident, Mrs Maria Ozofor, who lamented difficulties encountered by pregnant women at night, asserted that the gesture would reduce their sufferings.
Another local, an aged mother, Mrs Chetachukwu Unamba, expressed joy that the facility had brought quality medical service to their doorstep.
“We really thank God for the gesture. It will go a long way in reducing our stress including the long distances we trek to access medicare,” she said.
Speaking at the commissioning of the center, at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Okpoko, the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, expressed appreciation to the legislator for being proactive in the delivery of quality dividends of democracy to the people.
He said the sitting of the facility in the church would ensure its maintenance and protection against vandalism.
The cleric said pregnant women and other patients would no longer encounter difficulties accessing medicare in the community, promising to make available a mobile phone number in the event of emergencies.
He charged the management of the centre to make effective utilization of the ambulance in offering medical services to the citizens.
He however cautioned against its abuse, stressing that it should be strictly used for the purpose it was purchased.
“The ambulance shall remain standby for responses to emergency health cases and there won’t be any payment for its use,” the bishop said.
Earlier, the lawmaker, Onyema, disclosed that the gesture, carried out in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, was targeted at attracting affordable medical health for the people of the community.
“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 also explained that the decision to hand over renovated and equpied health centres to the church, was to ensure they were managed effectively and efficiently.
Onyema however regretted that most of the institutions given to local governments became moribund with time due to mismanagement.
He said, “It was the immediate past governor of the State 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.
“I realized that when Mr Peter Obi partnered with the church in schools and hospitals, they picked up. So I decided to toe that line.
“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.”
Expressing optimism of the churches’ ability to take care of the facilities without government’s supervision, the lawmaker maintained that the ambulance was purely for emergency cases within the community.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the Primary Health Centre, Dr Ejikeme Okonkwo, hinted that the centre was in a deplorable state before the lawmaker’s intervention.
He assured that the centre would provide 24 hours emergency services, including ultra sound scan machine, HIV clinic, maternal child healthcare, among others.
“The people will now be happy as they will be coming to a cleaner, cheaper and better equipped healthcare centre,” he stated.
Photo: the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, cutting the tape for the commissioning of the health centre in Okpoko.
