BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Rev. Fr. Michael Nwankwo, the Administrator of Mother of Mercy Hospital, Ihe in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, says the huge investment in healthcare technological devices in the newly-remodelled hospital has transformed healthcare services in Ihe and adjoining communities.
Nwankwo said this on Sunday while speaking to newsmen after 95 days of official reopening of the health facility, which was done at the cost of N300 million by Ihe Development Initiative (IDI), a group comprised of local entrepreneurs, academics and servicemen.
He said that the health facility, which is fully solar-powered, had been providing top-notch technologically-assisted vital medical care not only to the residents of Ihe community but also to nearby communities.
The administrator noted that the people of Ihe are pleased because the facility had undergone a significant transformation due to infusion of technology and innovation and “can now compete with big hospitals even in urban areas within Enugu metropolis.”
“With the upgrade, the services we provide have improved, and we are now better technologically equipped to respond to emergency situations.
“We have acquired a ventilator — a rarity in most hospitals — and our laboratory is now better equipped with innovative devices to conduct a wider range of routine tests and more,” he said.
Nwankwo noted that the hospital now serves not just the people of Ihe; adding: “Residents from distant communities, such as Agbo-ogwugwu, Ugbo and Amoli, are also seeking medical care here.”
“The response has been remarkable, and we have become a healthcare provider for numerous nearby communities,” he said.
Corroborating, a resident doctor at the hospital, Dr Echem Michael, noted that following the hospital’s upgrade, both staff and patients are experiencing a transformed environment, with improved conditions for delivering healthcare.
According to Micheal, it is challenging to work here before due to poor infrastructure.
He said, “Today, the facilities here are a source of pride. We have better equipment, increased access to medications, improved beds, oxygen cylinders and their components and enhanced staffing levels, resulting in a better patient turnout and experience.
“For expectant mothers, we now offer suitable facilities for delivery, and the modern beds and equipment have made a significant difference. Today, I have my own office for consultations, unlike in the past when they were conducted in open wards.
“Previously, our living quarters were inadequate, but now we have a much-improved structure, and we’ve resolved our water issues and enjoy constant electricity, and the welcoming community makes our work seamless.”
A laboratory technician at the hospital, Ms Ijeoma Okoro, explained that the hospital had been equipped to perform tests including Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Culture Tests, Urine Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity (MSC) and Stool Microscopy among other procedures.
Okoro also noted that, while some additional equipment is still awaited, the hospital currently possesses a microscope, microhematocrit and macrohematocrit centrifuges, an incubator and many other essential tools.
A patient, Mrs. Anastasia Nweke from Agbo-ogwugwu community, expressed her satisfaction with the services she had been receiving and was astonished by the extent of technological transformation in the hospital.
Another patient, Mr Hyginus Okafor, commended the care he received, noting that the doctors and nurses are diligent in their duties.
Okafor urged the management to maintain the current standards equipment and care, while praying for blessings upon them and the members of IDI.
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