The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Prof Onyebuchi Azubuike Friday, has explained why the centre named its newly commissioned Health Insurance building after its former Board Chairman, Senator Chris Adighije.
In an exclusive interview with Punch in Umuahia, Prof Onyebuchi stated that, apart from playing a significant role in his life, Senator Chris Adighije, who served as the institution’s Board Chairman between 2000 and 2002, contributed immensely to the centre by volunteering his intellectual expertise. This, he said, prompted the institution’s decision to honour him in this manner as a way of appreciating his contributions and immortalising his name. Senator Adighije’s efforts were instrumental in revolutionising the centre, making it more vibrant, modern, and ICT-compliant for effective service delivery.
It is worth recalling that, as part of the activities marking Senator Adighije’s 80th birthday anniversary on Saturday, the Federal Medical Centre formally built and commissioned the “Senator Chris Adighije Health Insurance Complex (SCAHIC),” which was inaugurated by the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
Senator Adighije also served as the Senator for Abia Central from 2003 to 2007 and as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, among other federal positions.
According to Prof Azubuike, “The background of this building and its conceptualisation was that, when I became the Medical Director, I noticed that the Health Insurance unit was not functioning as it should because it was sharing the same building with the General Outpatient Department.
“There was a lot of laxity in their operations, so we decided to ask, ‘How do we make this place function?’ Most people around the world are now keying into insurance instead of paying out of pocket so that they can access healthcare without the fear of having to pay cash. This would stop people from avoiding healthcare when they are sick, let alone seeking preventive care, because they are not required to pay cash.
“So, this would increase the number of people accessing quality healthcare without paying cash. We decided, first of all, to create infrastructure and digitalise it by incorporating technology, so that we could normalise their operations and ensure the insurance unit works for the benefit of our people.
“That is the essence of this building. To the glory of God, we have been able to construct, furnish, and equip it, and we decided to name it after one of our sons.”
During the commissioning, the Medical Director remarked, “I want to say that today, two years ago, Dr Chioma Alex Otti clearly won as the Governor of Abia State. So, it is with a sense of nostalgia that today, two years later, he is here with us, not only celebrating our father, Senator Chris Adighije, but also physically commissioning this building that the Federal Medical Centre has decided to name after one of its former Board Chairmen.”
The Chairman of the FMC Governing Board, Hon Matthew Uguru, also stated during the commissioning that the Board and Management approved naming the complex after Senator Adighije in recognition of his commendable contributions to the hospital’s development. He noted that Senator Adighije’s achievements have set a benchmark for his successors to aspire to and surpass.
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