Gov ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State have never hidden his disdain for medical tourism since he came into office. A critical evaluation of his seeming disdain could rightly be situated in his altruistic nature and patriotic dispositions towards his father land. Critical thinkers have often wondered if those who patronize foreign clinics ever had a pint of patriotic blood flowing in them. For one, the massive resources expended in accessing medical facility abroad could have been rechanneled to build same quality facility in the country which will effectively ensure that such resources are saved for some other important needs of state.
For another, accessing medical facility abroad tend to portray the country in bad light and ultimately it’s leaders as a set of uncaring and unfeeling bunch without shame. This same attitude has often fueled speculations that the wealthy citizens and our leaders are such pretentious bunch who would rather mouth what they do not believe in. For instance and most sadly, the federal government is still making humongous budgetary expenses on the prime State House clinic which has largely remained a mere consulting clinic. Successive Heads of government have often preferred foreign hospitals to the State House clinic and thereby encouraging brain drain in the country. Most of the best medical doctors and nurses abroad are on record to transit from the Nigerian soil.
Once the vow is made not to be part of the medical tourism jamboreeians, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi applied himself to what could be described as a revolutionary narrative change to bring what we are looking out for in “Sokoto” down to our “shokoto” as a popular saying often goes. He has never for once gone on any medical trip outside Nigeria once presented with a health issue. That is a true definition of humility and patriotism. And has God kept him all these while? Oh yes!
To demonstrate his patriotic zeal to stem brain drain and medical tourism in the country, the College of Medicine of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) he is building at Igbo Eno in Udenu/Igboeze South local governments in Enugu State became both a vision and a mission. The project is so massive and all encompassing that when completed, all one needed in a world class hospital facility will be provided. The project was started by his administration and he has vowed to commission it before leaving office. The project is over 70% completed structurally.
When completed, the college of medicine will reduce medical tourism in this country drastically. The college will be fitted with modern state of the art facilities and qualified medical and administrative personnels. This college will also churn out qualified medical students that can compete favourably with graduates of any medical college around the world.
The college of medicine will employ over a thousand staffers and reduce unemployment. The college will also open up these areas and will attract other developmental projects. It will bring more primary and secondary schools, police station, fire station, market, and other private companies that will spring up in the area. This is just the best way to open up a place for development. Even the value of land and other properties will appreciate massively there.
The administration of Gov ifeanyi Ugwuanyi have also embarked on total rebuilding and rehabilitation of some general hospitals in Enugu State. These include, general hospitals in Awgu, Oji River, Igboeze North, Nkanu West, and many more.
This government inherited Dr Simon Otuanya Diagnostic center in Enugu from past administration and completed it. He took over Colliery hospital Ngwo, around new market and rebuilt it to a modern hospital it is today. The hospital can attend to any medical challenge as we speak. Poly clinic Asata Enugu have been upgraded to general hospital from a cottage hospital. Park Lane hospital was not left behind. It have been fully equipped and staffed to meet up with any medical challenge especially now that UNTH has moved from Enugu town to Ituku Ozalla, thier permanent site.
With giant stride of Gov Ugwuanyi in the medical circle, medical tourism will soon stop in Nigeria if other governors will be patriotic enough to work the way Gov Ugwuanyi is working. That is why we are proud to say that Enugu State is in the hand of God.
Bibian Anekwe News added: “Effective leadership is not about making speeches, fake promises or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attribute.”
Leonard Ugwu
A political Analyst
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
