The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia is one of the high performing tertiary institutions in the country, which needed to be supported in all its programmes.
Adewole stated this after commissioning a TB drug resistance and treatment centre in FMC, Umuahia, put together to treat those who have low resistance to tuberculosis.
He said there is very low optics rate in the world in terms of TB diagnoses “and we are able to diagnose one out of every six cases of TB”.
He added: “I find that the Center is situated in a beautiful building and I spoke to the staff to encourage them on the need to Nigerians to improve optics in terms of diagnosis to TB.
“And we are committed to what we are doing.
“We started last year.
“We designated 2017 as a year of accelerated TB case finding to roll it over to 2018.
“We want to pick more cases, we have a charge to pick every case of TB wherever it is and treat them.
“FMC is one of the high performing tertiary institutions.
“The MD is an excellent performing personnel here and a magician.
“I enjoy coming here because when I come here, the feeling I get is unique, so I need to give him support.”
The Minister said he visited the heart transplant programme and was impressed with what is happening there.
Adewole said: “It is one of the few Centers in the country and I interacted with some of the patients and the team and I promised him support.
“I am more than impressed with what I have seen here today.”
The Minister later commissioned a State-owned TB reference laboratory a Amachara Specialist Hospital and the Pharmaceutical Mega Mall market.
Adewole thanked the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, whom he paid a courtesy call to with his entourage at the Government House, Umuahia.
He said there is a lot of gain building partnership between the State and Federal Governments and promised his Ministry’s plans to upgrade the kidney transplant of the center as a way of reducing medical tourism.
One of the personalities who accompanied the Minister to Abia State for the official assignment is a onetime Chief of Staff to Abia State Government and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, whose virtues were extolled by Governor Ikpeazu during the interaction with Adewole.
Another personality at the Minister’s entourage to Government House included the FMC MD, Dr. Abali Chukwu.
The Governor commended the Minister for his intervention in the health care system in the country and appreciated him for taking the issues of Abia State seriously.
He said the state places a lot of premium on the health of is citizenry and his government plans to establish a specialist hospital for children under-five years and their mothers.
He also hinted of a planned free medical programme for the elderly in the state.