Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Hope has beamed for kidney disease patients in Abia State as the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre Umuahia, is set to resume dialysis and kidney care services.
This is coming after four years of inactivity following decay and non maintenance of its equipment.
Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre was established by the former governor of the state, Theodore Orji, after acquiring the facility from the late Ezeogo Anagha Ezikpe, and renovating it for the state’s use.
But under the tenure of the immediate-past Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, the hospital was virtually grounded.
The new Chief Medical Director, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu, recently appointed by Gov. Alex Otti, told newsmen in Umuahia that the dialysis centre had been revived.
Dr Okwuonu who said his major concern was to restore the Specialist Hospital to its glory days and fulfill its core mandate as a referral centre for kidney disease patients in the South-East.
The CMD regretted that facilities at the centre were allowed to dilapidate due to gross neglect by the previous administration.
He, however, thanked the Gov. Otti-led Government for giving attention to the hospital.
The CMD said that the hospital houses a six-point dialysis centre which was abandoned by the past Government to rot, “thereby denying residents access to this life-saving services.”
Okwuonu, a Consultant Nephrologist and Kidney Transplant expert, vowed to restore the lost glory of the hospital and reposition it for excellence in keeping with its core mandate of delivering specialist health care and diagnostic services to residents.
The CMD commended Gov. Otti for his massive investment in the hospital and the health sector in general, promising to justify every investment in the hospital.
“Our Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has demonstrated that he is out to change the narrative in the health sector and everyone should key into that restoration agenda,” Okwuonu said.
The former Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State, called on the healthcare community to, henceforth, refer patients in need of dialysis and kidney care to the centre for treatment, assuring them that proper attention will be given.
He thanked the staff of the hospital for working hard to re-align with the vision of the current administration of the hospital.
Dr Okwuonu also thanked the State Ministry of Health for its supports, assuring that the hospital Management on his watch, will continue to live up to expectations.
