By Udo Akam-Alo, ABAKALIKI
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Health Institutions has toured Alex Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FETHA) on oversight function.
The Committee led by the member representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency of Enugu State, Hon Martins Okeh expressed satisfaction with the infrastructural development of the institution, rating it as one of the best in the country.
He spoke while touring the premoses of the two hospitals in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking to newsmen, the Team leader maintained that the structures at sight remain the best as he commended the state Governor’s construction of Ultramodern Accident/Emergency Unit of the hospital.
He further commended the Chief Medical Director, Emeka Onwe Ogah and his management team for their relentless efforts in managing the affairs of the health institution but however made observation on areas of necessary improvement.
The leader said, “we are here on oversight functions, and we have had interactions with the CMD and his management team and we are particularly impressed by what we have seen in Abakaliki.
“This complex is a complete hospital; it is like a hospital inside an hospital.
We are even more impressed now learning that this Accident/Emergency complex is constructed by the State government.
“We thank the Governor very much for this and I believe that by the time he finishes his second tenure, Ebonyi State will have a good history to write about.
“We have commended the CMD for all he has done; there are still areas for improvement which he has to perform and interact with the members of the House Committee for us to see how we can achieve further improvement but it is one of the best hospitals we have visited.”
Okeh blamed the failing economy on the COVID-19 pandemic reiterating its negative effects on various health sectors.
“2020 has been a very rough year because of COVID-19; the oil price dropped drastically, and that affected our budget.
“It is clear to us that our hospitals are in very bad shape. We have told the CMD that he has to do a summary of all we have discussed here today, come over to the Committee, and we will articulate ideas and know what we can do to support the hospitals,” he assures.
On his part, the CMD thanked the Committee, enumerated their challenges and however called on the Federal Government for assistance.
“I’m delighted on behalf of the staff and management of Alex Ekweme Teaching hospital to welcome you to this hospital.
“This hospital is a major and also a young Teaching Hospital as you have observed.
“We have challenges of wards to admit patients, our emergency is always congested to the brim because this is the only teaching hospital and also is serving as a secondary care level giver that gives us a very big worry in the hospital which we are trying to overcome. So space is our big challenge in the hospital.
“We also have challenge of electricity, now hospitals gives essential services but we have been charged as industries because of we have huge amount of money commitment every month which we have not been to meet up with every month.
“Because poor performance of the budget, the equipments procured by the hospital have been able to pay to and I believe this members will help us in solving this problem so that this contractors and suppliers should not wake up and take us to court because we breach our side of the deal,” he said.
