Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says the state government will release N100 million to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) for the medical bills of indigent patients, procurement of X-ray machines and a vehicle.
Umahi made the pledge when he visited the hospital on Thursday in Abakaliki as part of the activities to mark the 2017 Yuletide.
“We will immediately donate 2,500 bags of 5kg rice and N5 million to the management and staff of the hospital and the same quantity of rice and cash sum to all the patients, for their Christmas celebration.
“You are not supposed to visit your relatives and friends with empty hands during this season of support, celebration, pardon, forgiveness, promotion and salvation,’’ he said.
The governor said that the government had started the construction of a new accident and emergency ward at the hospital at the cost of N1 billion.
“We will release N270 million for the commencement of the project and though its design was reviewed severally, it will be the best in the country on completion.
“The state government will collaborate with you in your health outreach programmes as it is presently decongesting mortuaries in hospitals and also prisons in the state,’’ he said.
The governor urged his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Religion and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali, to pay similar visits to other hospitals across the state to extend the same gesture to other patients.
“I urge FETHA’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) to identify an outpost at our new International Market for us to offer adequate medical attention to traders who will relocate there in 2018.
“We thank God and commend you for your prayers and support to the CMD and two other staff whom God recently rescued from kidnappers,’’ he said.
Nwali thanked the governor for his unwavering assistance to hospitals in the state which, he said, had impacted positively on the lives of the people.
“The hospital outreach programme offsets the bills of patients who cannot afford such in these austere times and ensures early detection and treatment of ailments not comprehended by the people,’’ he said.
The hospital’s CMD, Dr Emeka Ogah, also thanked the governor for his gesture, saying that such as assistance to the hospital and love for humanity was uncommon.
“The management, staff and patients of the hospital will continue to pray that God keeps using you as a tool of succour to the hopeless and helpless in the society,’’ he said.
A beneficiary, Mrs Chidimma Ijeh, expressed gratitude to the governor for the gesture and prayed for God’s continued grace and guidance upon him.
