Lawmaker hands over health centre to Church in Anambra

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

Speaking recently while handing over one of the renovated health centre as well as a brand new hearse to Ogbaru Anglican Diocese, Okpoko, at St Luke Anglican Church, Okpoko, Onyema said that it was Mr Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and the hopeful Vice president of Nigeria 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 all the establishments given to the local government system get mismanaged and goes moribund. It was the immediate past governor of Anambra 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 since the development.

ALSO READ: What Obasanjo told me before endorsement ― Atiku

“I realized that when the past governor of Anambra State, Mr 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 one other primary health centre has been rehabilitated and handed over to another Anglican church inside Onitsha as well as in a Catholic church which has also been given an ambulance.

He also 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 medical health 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 the essence of 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 people 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 standby for responding to emergency health cases,” the bishop said.

He also announced that the ambulance will not charge any patient it conveys and blessed

Dr Ejikeme Okonkwo, the Chief Medical Director of the primary health centre stated that the primary health care 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; ultrasound scan machine; HIV clinic, maternal child healthcare.

“The people will not be happy as they would be coming to a cleaner, better-equipped healthcare centre,” he said.