ExpdonaLoaded.blogspot.com (+2348097205188): Expdonaloaded News; Anambra community decries state of general hospital

The outbreak of cholera, measles and other diseases coupled with high rate of infant and maternal mortality in Amanuke community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State in the mid-70s made the people of the area to embark upon the construction of a cottage hospital.
Before then, there was no hospital in the entire 10 communities of Achalla, Amanuke, Amansea, Awba-Ofemmili, Ebenebe, Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu, Urum, Ugbene, and Ugbenu that make up Awka North Local Government Area as the people said that the government was not keen in building any for them.

As a result, the people patronized traditionalists who used herbs and other materials to treat them, and during emergencies most of them had risked their lives as they had 50-50 chances of survival.
The situation made most of them to travel to Awka General Hospital which is about 10 kilometres South of the town on bicycle.
But determined to overcome their plight, the Amanuke people through communal efforts built a two-storey over 100-bed capacity hospital with an additional one bungalow and handed it over to the government.
They also built doctors’ and nurses’ quarters inside the massive compound.
According to a community leader, Chief Charles Obi, “the construction work lasted from 1978 to 1983 and it was commissioned by the then governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who was represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr Ralph Rochas Obi.”
In 1984, he said, that they posted Dr S. A. Udoye to the hospital as the first medical doctor with one Miss Josephine Nnano as the staff midwife.
The commissioning of that project then brought some joy and relief to the people as they hoped that the government would equip it to standard, but that joy was short-lived as the government did not take further actions.
But to avoid their efforts being in vain, Chief Obi, who doubles as the pioneer Chairman of Awka North Local Government Area told Oriental News that the community took up other financial responsibilities in the hospital.
Hear him: “After a long wait without further actions by the government, our community started to employ paramedical staff such as the auxiliary nurses, maids, labourers, security and so on who we also paid from the community purse. The government employed only two persons and the community now employed 10.
“From day one to now, Amanuke community has been contributing immensely in all ramifications to keep the hospital moving, yet they receive minimal support from the government. It was only during the time of Chief Peter Obi that the main building housing the male, female and paediatric wards was renovated.”
“We did not only build the structure, we also provided some hospital equipment. I remember that I had led a delegation to the Ministry of Health in Enugu and they gave us some beds from Park Lane Hospital, Enugu. But now, there is no equipment in that hospital. The Anambra State government overlooked it, bringing everything to a standstill. Everything is now decayed.
“Before the construction of that hospital, there were cases of outbreak of epidemics like cholera. Infant, child and maternal mortality was very high. I remember one Mrs Nwoye died during child birth. That was because there was no hospital. These impelled us to embark on that hospital project.”
But given the strategic location of the town in the heart of the council area coupled with the fact that there is no hospital like that in the entire zone, the Anambra State government through the Ministry of Health pronounced it a general hospital for Awka North as each local government was expected to have at least one general hospital.
The former Governor Obi administration awarded contract for the renovation of the main building which was dilapidated due to several years of neglect. But the contractor did little or nothing.
Although the conditions of the job was not clear as the contractor had allegedly abandoned the project and left many years back, the residents told Oriental News at the site that its PVC ceiling had started falling off almost as soon as they were installed; the gate fallen down, leaving the entire premises open and prone to robbery, even as the paintings smear on the body when touched.
Also observed was that the air pressure has started pulling off a section of the roof, the nurses and doctors’ quarters were not renovated and the bungalow currently being used lacked equipment.
At the moment, rodents and other dangerous animals have taken over the premises. Domestic animals which roam the town have converted it to their abode as their droppings littered the environment. No single equipment was installed in the main building.
A nurse who does not want her name on print told Oriental News that things have fallen apart in the hospital.
Hear her: “One of the major problems we have in this hospital is insecurity. Since I came here, I have never set my eyes on any security personnel. The one that pains us the most is that our maternity section is dilapidated. It has collapsed entirely. Each time I look at it I feel like crying. It has been like that for so many years. Our gates have fallen down thereby exposing the hospital to hoodlums who come here to defecate. Each time we come to this hospital we see mounds of faeces and urines all over the place. They also cart away hospital equipment within their reach. Even, they have broken the key to our water tank and now using the water.
“It is heart-rending to tell you that we don’t have any hospital equipment. You cannot find any meaningful hospital gadgets in this so-called general hospital. We don’t have any single operation equipment; not even one. When you visit our theatre you can’t find any single equipment. They should equip it for at least minor surgeries. As a result, we don’t handle emergency situations here as we refer such patients to Awka General Hospital which is about 10 miles south of Amanuke community. Unfortunately, we have only one doctor here. And that only one doctor obviously does not cover the needs of our patients. We need doctors of various specializations here. Again, we do not have hospital beds here. We don’t even have toilets; although it has been built but not connected yet. So, these issues should be looked into, as a matter of urgency.
“Some time back, some thieves attacked this hospital, carting away some of the few, archaic equipment we were managing to work with. A mad man called Taata had come here and carried away our entire hospital records and destroyed them, but we were able to recover some of them from him. But that ugly situation could have been saved if we had security officers.
“This hospital is the only general hospital for Awka North Local Government Area. It is also a referral centre. Currently, it serves as a referral centre for the Family Health International (FHI) in the entire Awka North which is made up of 10 communities. Other hospitals and health centres are supposed to refer their cases to this Amanuke General Hospital but that’s when it starts functioning well. Government should rebuild this hospital to reflect its name.”
She also disclosed that they do not have enough nurses in the hospital, saying that they have only three trained nurses.
“Can you imagine that? Even some of the clerical workers don’t really know their work. Some time back the government awarded contract for the fencing of the compound to one woman, but she squandered the money without completing the project before the local government took it up and completed it although the gate has collapsed.
“Because we don’t have the needed hospital equipment, there were some diseases or ill-health we couldn’t handle. There was a time they brought a child suffering from hydrocele but we could not handle it. We referred him to Amaku General Hospital, Awka.
“The government should first of all build necessary infrastructure in the hospital. Doctors and nurses quarters should be constructed. Security officers are also needed. We need laboratory equipment. That gigantic building constructed through communal effort should not be allowed to be in vain. They should put this hospital to the best use. It has expansive compound that can contain every needed infrastructure. I think they are just suffering the people of Awka North for no just cause,” she lamented.
Another community leader, Mr Silas Nnamekwue who was visibly angry about the state of the hospital told Oriental News that “we have been making concerted efforts to ensure that the hospital progresses for the good of the community and her neighbouring communities in Awka North council area.
“Apart from building the hospital which we also handed over to the government, we periodically go there to clear the bushes. The different age grades in the community take turn to ensure that the compound is kept clean periodically. There was a healthy competition among them.
“So many years after that hospital was built and handed over to the government, that gigantic, two-storey building was never used for once. They are only making use of the bungalow in the compound. We have been suffering so much here. For me, the best thing government will do right now is to renovate and equip the hospital structures, including the doctors’ and nurses’ quarters built by the community; deploy doctors and nurses there; give them ambulances; in fact, generally make the hospital functional to reflect the status of General Hospital they have pronounced it.”
He also recalled that “there was a time robbers attacked the hospital and took away a vital part of the gigantic generator in the hospital. After that robbery incidence, that generator was never put to use again.”
When contacted, the member representing Awka North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Chief Boniface Okonkwo said he would table the matter before the governor for actions.
“All those things will be included in the next year’s budget. Government must do something. Awka North is one of the local governments in Anambra State. Our own is not different. All the problems of Awka North will be collated during my next constituency meetings and I will present them to the government. And I believe that government will do something this time around. I have plan for all of them and I must actualize it,” he promised.