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Hospital with State-of-the-art Facilities Commissioned in Awka
A world class hospital, Life International, with the state-of-the-art facilities, has been commissioned and dedicated to God in Awka by the Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the Presiding Bishop of Grace of God Mission, Bishop Paul Nwachukwu respectively.
The hospital built by Mr. Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu, a Professor of Obstetrician and Gynecology at the faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, will employ the use of modern scientific technology, known as endoEYE view in the diagnosis and treatment of women related issues and as well, boost quality healthcare delivery of citizens.
The commissioning and dedication was preceded by the 41st inaugural lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, entitled ‘EndoEYE View of the Woman’ delivered by Prof. Ikechebelu at the University’s auditorium.
He explained that the hospital which is international standard, will handle facility issues and other ailments in the area, thereby saving patients the burden of accessing medicare at Nnewi, Lagos, Abuja or even abroad.
Gov. Obiano represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke while commissioning the edifice expressed shock that an individual could thought of putting in place such structure and modern technologies in diagnosis and treatment for the citizens and urged others to emulate him.
“This kind of think home philosophy is what the governor has been praying and working for. I am impressed that the hospital also has a separate quarter for patient’s relatives so that they won’t be stranded while taking care of the patients. This is a pure touch of class and excellence and a gesture we all need to emulate.
“Government has done its own part of creating enabling environment for business to thrive; we want industrialists, investors and professionals to queue into that by creating jobs for our youths. With this, people don’t need to travel to India, Canada, America and other places to access Medicare. The only thing we ask Prof. Ikechebelu is to ensure that there is professional treatment of patients here,” he urged.
He said the state government’s security breakthrough and Think Home for investment Philosophy pledged that the present administration will continue to create an enabling environment for more businesses to emerge and thrive.
In an interview, the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, who commended the initiator of the project, said he was impressed at the touch of class and excellence, evident in the facility.
According to the Deputy Governor, it is the major role of government to provide a conducive atmosphere for its citizens, which is what it has been doing since inception, saying that as a result, many private businesses have emerged.
He stressed that present administration understands the strategic importance public private partnership as a catalyst for advanced development, calling on more people to heed the Aku Luo Uno call of the Governor by bringing a part of their businesses, as the next four years in the life span of Governor Obiano’s administration will witness unprecedented ingenuity in all sectors of the State economy.
Dr Okeke who said that about seventy five percent of the healing process is attributed to the human relation in the hospital, urged the staff of the establishment to be dedicated to their duty by being courteous among other good human virtues, and tasked the citizenry on playing their individual roles in the process of development of the state.
Earlier at the inaugural lecture at UNIZIK auditorium, Prof. Ikechebelu described women as a special breed and a carrier of godly environment such as the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and pelvis but regretted that some factors like the sexually transmitted disease, uterine fibroid, tubal damage and peritoneal factors that distort the general environment in a woman could adversely result to infertility.
He further explained that EndoEYE system, available at Life hospital, is a high tech system used to examine the woman’s abdomen (laproscopy) and uterus (hysteroscopy) that transmits light and has a small video camera that sends images and video to a monitor or screen.
According to him, EndoEYE view can be used for improved diagnosis and surgery, easy procedure recording, assessment and treatment of conditions relating to the reproductive environment in a woman, adding that with the technological innovation in assessing woman’s environment, reproductive issues like tubal pathologies, tubal blockage, peri-tubal adhesions and Salpingistis with or without hydosalpinx can be identified and treated with ease.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, however commended Prof. Ikechebelu for making the university proud through skills and research, pointing out that he has demonstrated strength in academics, science, entrepreneurship and willing to share his wealth of experience with others.
Dedicating the edifice unto God, the Presiding Bishop of Grace of God Mission, Dr. Paul Nwachukwu, stressed that the project was brought to fruition by God, through man’s instrumentality, saying that just like the name of the hospital implies, when one is giving life, one is doing the work of God.
Bishop Nwachukwu added that such project is the beginning of good things to come in the state.
In a comment, the traditional ruler of Umunya, who is the Chairman of Oyi Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Kris Onyekwuluje, said that Governor Obiano’s solid foundation of security has attracted many developments into the state, calling on more people to come back home and invest, as return for their investments is guaranteed in the state.
The Convener and CEO of the Hospital, Dr Joe Ikechebelu, promised service delivery to patients in the hospital, even as he said that the Governor’s posture on development informed his investing in health care.
Others present at the inaugural lecture and commissioning of the hospital included the traditional ruler of Abagana, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke; his Umunya counterpart, Igwe Onyekwuluje; CMD NAUTH Nnewi, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe; the Sales Representative of OM Surgical New Delhi, India, Rajesh Patil; Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike; professional bodies; management and senior staff of NAUTH, among others. (News Express).
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Badaru on Operational Tour of 82 Division, other Military Installations in Enugu and Imo States
The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni is currently in Enugu on operational tour of 82 Division of Nigerian Army and other military platforms in Enugu.
He was received on arrival by the General officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army / Commander JTF SE of operation Udoka Major-General H.T Dada and other senior military officers.
The Minister is expected to meet with South East stakeholders on the way forward.
Details later…
Tinubu has granted full oversight responsibilities to Ministers of State over agencies under them amongst whom are Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle, Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of State for Agriculture and others will henceforth enjoy full oversight responsibilities over such agencies.
President Bola Tinubu at FEC Meeting has approved that ministers of state be given full powers to supervise the agencies under them, the cable reported.
Until now, files pertaining to departments and agencies under their supervision were sent by their permanent secretaries to the senior ministers.
With the new dispensation, ministers of state can now grant all necessary administrative approvals on the governance process of these agencies and departments.
According to a source in the office of the head of service of the federation, “the president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name”.
This, Tinubu reportedly said, led to the “underutilisation of the expertise and capabilities” of most ministers of state.
“The president believes ministers of state should have the right to make decisions and direct action within their areas of responsibility,” the official added.
According to the Cable report, the source said the idea, first mooted by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the President on policy coordination and head, central delivery coordination unit got an instant buy-in from the President.
With the new directive, the administration hopes “to unleash” the potential of all the ministers, the source added.
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Enugu: Mbah Approves N80,000 Minimum Wage for State, LG Workers and Primary School Teachers
…It’s unprecedented to earn above minimum wage in Enugu- Labour
… We’ll commence implementation immediately- ALGON
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024, noting a direct link between a motivated workforce and his administration’s vision of growing the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
The new minimum wage covers all state employees, primary school teachers, and local government workers.
Organised labour has described the wage as unprecedented, as it was the first time that Enugu workers would be earning above the national minimum wage.
Mbah announced the new minimum wage on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and labour leaders, including the state’s labour leaders.
Mbah said, “Few weeks ago, I inaugurated a committee with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu State, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare, in regard of which we have been resolutely committed.
“We have approved the sum of N80,000 as the new minimum wage in Enugu State. This underscores our commitment to bequeathing lasting legacies of improved living conditions.
“Our commitment to improved workers’ welfare runs deep, and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inextricable link between an inspired workforce and the audacious economic targets we had set our sights on.
“We clearly understood that reducing poverty to the barest minimum and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce. Therefore, for us, the best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that the workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated.
“We have similarly demonstrated our commitment to workers welfare through the consistent payment of the wage awards, a gesture we had pledged to sustain until a new wage structure took effect.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, thanked governor Mbah for always prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the new minimum wage as “a great one for Enugu workers.”
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minium wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” said.
Speaking to Government House correspondents, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, said, “We are so happy. The governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage, but said that it cascades down to even local government workers. He said that he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us.
“One thing we have seen is that he understands the impact of motivation on productivity. The governor has set a pace and we know that any other person coming after him will have the challenge to meet up with the target set by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah.”
On his part, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council chairmen to implementing the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” he said.
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