Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, on Saturday, performed the ground breaking ceremony of Amokwe Health Centre, Amokwe in Udi local government area of the state, and commended the community for the love and unity that exist in the town..
Speaking at the event, held at Afor-Inyi square, Amokwe, the Deputy Governor, who is an illustrious daughter of Amokwe, noted that it was the peace and unity in the community that the development recorded so far in the community to be possible.
She expressed delight to be home to be part of the laudable project saying, “I express my deepest delight to join my fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters on this lovely occasion of ground breaking and project support ceremony of a community project that is very dear to our hearts, the Amokwe health centre,Afor Inyi.”
She thanked the Amokwe Progressive National Organisation, (APNO), USA, the Amokwe Development Foundation (ADF), traditional rulers, traditional institutions, cabinets, town union government and all Amokwe people for the cocept and take-off of the project.
“As you all know, undertaking a healthcare project of this nature is about one of the best decisions that any community can make because investing in the health system not only saves lives but also be a crucial investment in a wider economy of the community as obvious from the fact that I’ll health affects productivity, hinders employment, income earning process, and adversary affects human capital development.
“To me, the Amokwe health centre, which we are doing the ground breaking ceremony today, will be the centre of primary healthcare services in our community.
“This vision aligns seamlessly with the public health of the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration, which from inception in May 2015, embraced concept of primary healthcare under one roof. A policy to stop the delivery of primary healthcare services ,which involves the integration of all primary health centres under one authority, with the following key operational engagement and governance.
“It is my sincere hope and expectation that Amokwe healthcare centre will certainly be in a position to provide our people with the platform of accessing the best standard of primary healthcare services.
“On my part,I will do my utmost to ensure that government adequate attention and support are available to it.
Ezeilo said that community participation is essential requirement for the success of the concept of the healthcare.
“This essentially called for all the participation and involvement of all the people and leaders of our community in the development of placing management and security of Amokwe healthcare centre, both now and in the future.”
Thanking the stakeholders who initiated the project, the Deputy Governor commended the people of Amokwe for the level of unity, harmony and oneness seen in the town which she said, “is uncommon and enviable.
“It is this unique spirit that enabled us to deliver community projects including boreholes, schools, roads among others. I sincerely pray for sustenance of great community mutual support and love,” she said.
Representative of the Health Services Committee, Rev. Dr. Fr. Obi Eneh, in his speech, said that they had been operating the Amokwe health centre, but have decided to upgrade to a modern hospital
He said, “The health services committee made up of Amokwe sons , daughters and daughters -in-law working in the medical fields contributed in no small measurements to get to this point.
“We met monthly to brainstorm and mapped a path way to the future of this medical centre . It is very important that I emphasis things regarding this Amokwe medical centre . Yes, we have been providing health care to our people at the Afor,Inyi medical centre but at this modern time, we are ready to move forward with updated state of the art medical centre with advanced technology. We want to continue living our mission which is to provide health for the communities we serve.
“In living our mission is to deliver healthcare services for ten years. Our goal is to tackle health challenges by upgrading, modernising Amokwe health centre , increasing medical infrastructure,. We will hire, we will train and we will retain a skilled Force, ” Fr. Eneh said
He said further: “All sons and daughters of Amokwe that want to enter into the medical field, you are welcome, we will support you.”
He said that the community will build corporative partnership with regional institutions and international organisation. “To realise our goals,we have planned to ensure that the personnel and educators are well grounded with the latest treatment options, technologies and innovations for treatment of patients , provide affordable and accessible quality care that is driven by evidence -based research, collaborate with specialist Doctors that are leaders in their fields of practice.
“While the ground breaking is a course for celebration, the campaign to complete and sustain this hospital has just begun.” he said.
He appealed for support to provide the needed services in the hospital..
Speaking, the President -General of Amokwe Progressive National Organisation,USA, Dr Ejike Eneh, said that the community decided to build an upgraded hospital with modern facilities.
According to him, it is a dream that started in 2002 in Dallas, USA. He was optimistic that the project will be completed and everyone will get the benefit of what they had come to witness
“This hospital is just being pioneered by Amokwe Progressive National Organisation,USA. We are not building it. We are leading it. All hands must be on the deck to get into it. It is going to be your hospital, it is going to be my hospital and we are all going to be taking responsibility to make sure that we sustain the hospital.
“Building a hospital is not the end of it. It is sustaining the hospital. It requires a lot. It doesn’t matter how much you have. It is the spirit of giving that will take this hospital where we want it to go.
“When you are passing this road and you see something not going well, you take ownership and say this is not what we expected to happen in this hospital . Sop, you are destroying my thing. That’s why we want everyone to get involved.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chancellor of Amokwe Development Foundation (ADF), Samson Aneke, who was represented by the Deputy Chancellor, Ife Anthony Chime, said that the intention of the community is ” to have a health centre that will give Amokwe the pride of it’s place. To serve not only Amokwe but the rest of humanity, Enugu State and Nigeria in general.
“This is an effort that every one of us is encouraged to key in as long as you are a son or daughter of Amokwe”, he said
Dignatries at the event were His Roysl Highness, Igwe Justice Chike Onyia, the President-General ,Amokwe Progressive National Organisation, USA,Dr. Ejike Eneh, President-General, Orji- Amokwe, Afam Anagor, Barrister Emeka Odenigwe, Deputy Chancellor Amokwe Development Foundation, Ife Anthony Chime, Ichie Sunny Eneh, Barrister Emeka Odenigwe, Shedrack Aneke, Chike Esomchi, Chief Obi Eneh and Prof Iloeje (SAN), among others.
