President Mohammadu Buhari on Friday inaugurated the permanent site of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra.
Buhari, while delivering his speech during the inauguration, said the National Health Act had made it mandatory for all Nigerians to receive free medical care, irrespective of tribe, to the tune of N250, 000 per year.
The president, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, said the Act had also supported the issuance of health insurance to all Nigerians.
He said the current administration had made it mandatory that the health sector received 100 per cent budget funding.
” I use this opportunity to appeal to the staff of this hospital, that what we see here today is a lot of sacrifice, a lot of projects are seeking attention from the national budget, but the Federal Government decided to invest heavily in this particular project.
“it will therefore be a thing of sorrow if in the few years to this time, one comes here to see it deteriorating.
“Make sure that you do everything possible to ensure that you render the best health care services to the people who will come from far and near to receive medical health care from this hospital and also ensure the maintenance of these beautiful edifice,” he said.
Mrs Adejoke Adefulire-Orelope, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, urged residents to take ownership, as there was still much work to be done to support the project.
She emphasised that one of the basic goals of SDGs was to ensure effective primary health care in rural communities.
Also, Dr Joseph Ugboaja, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, said the inauguration and movement into the hospital permanent site was one of his agenda when he assumed office.
Ugboaja stressed that himself and his staff would do everything humanly possible to ensure that the project was protected, and thus become globally competitive.
Earlier, the Chairman Management Board of the hospital, Mr Ezekiel Afukonyo, said since inception more than 30 years ago, the hospital had operated from its temporary site, which had limited space for proper treatment of patients care and future expansion.
Afukonyo noted that the board had to resolve and move the hospital to its permanent site, to meet the yearnings of the people. (NAN)
