Fides Media Living the Faith
….Vows to Turn Amaku into Medical Tourism, Reels Out Achievements
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr. Joe Akabuike, recently, at the hospital’s premises, celebrated his 100 days in office as the helmsman.
Addressing medical personnel, consultants, staff, students, and guests, Dr. Akabuike assured that he would bring about the desired change at COOUTH, promising to transform it into a medical tourism centre.
He acknowledged that source of power supply remained a serious challenge facing the Hospital.
Dr. Akabuike took time to reel out the achievements and milestones of his 100 days in office and thanked Gov Willie Obiano for finding him worthy to serve as the CMD of COOUTH. He noted that one of his challenges was not witnessing a proper handover from his predecessor, the late Dr. Basil Nwankwo.
L-R: Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr. Vincent Okpala; CMD, COOUTH, Amaku, Awka, Dr Joe Akabuike, and the Special Adviser to Gov Willie Obiano on Health and Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi.
With pictorial evidence projected for the audience, Dr Akabuike listed some of his achievements as, improving working environment in the hospital, re-activated street lights and lighting of the whole hospital environment, improving the wards by painting, providing rails for hanging curtains and mosquito nets, repairing of damaged furniture, forms and packed hospital equipment, repairing of collapsed ceiling in the theatre, leaking roofs in various parts of the hospital, introduction of quarterly morning assembly for prayers and briefing of hospital community on the activities of the hospital Management
Others included, monthly meetings with consultants and Heads of Departments, introduction of SERVICOM to ensure and enforce improved services to patients, initiation of staff auditing (for transparency and accountability), among others.
At the programme, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, took time to eulogize Dr. Akabuike, describing his 100 days achievements as ‘A solid kick-off,’ explaining that the robust approach by the new CMD had yet again set a laudable benchmark in the history of the institution.
‘Amaku, under Dr. Akabuike, is moving to be the flagship Hospital in the entire South East. Under Akabuike, Amaku is equipped to presumably treat Stroke (cerebrovascular accident CVA) 100% if the patient is brought to the hospital within 4-5hrs of attack. These are exemplifying achievements in the short period of 100 days if you ask me,’ he said.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Paschal Oguno who represented the COOUTH Board Director, commended the celebrant for setting what he termed an awesome record in a short while