Dr. Basil Nwankwo, the Chief Medical Director of Chuwkuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, is dead.
Nwankwo’s death was announced in a statement by Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the Anambra State Government, in Awka on Wednesday.
Chukwulobelu, who expressed Governor Willie Obiano’s grief over the death of the CMD, described it as saddening.
He said Nwankwo with his team at the COOUTH were in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 in the state.
He said: “Governor Willie Obiano is saddened by the unfortunate passing of Dr Basil Nwankwo, who performed creditably well as the CMD of COOUTH.
“Dr Nwankwo, together with his colleagues at Anambra State Ministry of Health, and other partner agencies have been on the frontline of health officials fighting the coronavirus in the state.”
Chukwulobelu in the statement also announced the appointment Dr. Josephat Akabuike, Chairman of Governing Council, Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi, as the new CMD.
Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, was subsequently appointed as a replacement for Akabuike at the College of Health Technology, Obosi.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that late Nwankwo, an indigene of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area, was an ENT surgeon.