By Chinenye Dike
In a momentous ceremony held on December 21, 2023, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, blessed and officially opened the Mother and Child Unit building at the Godfrey Okoye University Teaching Hospital in Trans-ekulu.
During his homily, Bishop Onaga emphasized the significance of faith in healing, urging both hospital staff and patients to turn to their faith in God. He highlighted the interconnectedness of faith and healthcare, emphasizing that healing is not solely a physical process but also a spiritual one. The Bishop prayed for the hospital’s staff to be instruments of God in the healing process.
In an address presented to Bishop Onaga, Prof. C.U Nwadinigwe, the Chief Medical Director, recounted the hospital’s transformation from a struggling institution to a beacon of healthcare excellence. He credited the visionary leadership of Vice Chancellor Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke for the infrastructural facelift, including the completion of the Mother and Child Unit and the ongoing rehabilitation of the main building.
Prof. Nwadinigwe detailed the features of the Mother and Child Unit, which is poised to serve as a hub for obstetrics and neonatal care. The unit boasts of 36 beds, an operating theatre, an intensive care unit (ICU), a Newborn Special Care Unit, and 16 private room wards. With these facilities, the hospital aims to excel in obstetrics and neonatal care in the region.
He further highlighted the hospital’s efforts to attract skilled personnel through part-time consultants across various clinical departments. These departments include Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, and Anesthesia.
To enhance service quality, the hospital has implemented strategies such as the Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) to monitor efficiency and a Drug Revolving Fund Committee (DRF) to minimize drug shortages. The hospital has also initiated blood banking services, resulting in a surge in new patient registrations.
Looking ahead, the hospital plans to launch a housemanship program for medical graduates and an internship program for graduate nurses. However, challenges remain, including the lack of essential diagnostic equipment such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and automated analyzers, as well as the need for an ambulance service.
Prof. Nwadingwe acknowledged support and equipment donations from Hon. Dr. Samuel Ngwu and Rev. Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, urging others to follow suit. Bishop Onaga pledged ongoing support from the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, both financially and spiritually.
In his response, Vice Chancellor Prof. Anieke expressed gratitude for Bishop Onaga’s unwavering support, foreseeing a promising future for the hospital as a teaching institution and a medical education center. He aspired for the hospital to become a global leader in healthcare.
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