Health Minister Commissions Isolation Centre Donated By Abia Professionals, Says Its ‘Unprecedented’

The Concerned Abia Professionals, a body of Abia citizens championing the development of the state, has been commended for building and fully equipping an isolation centre in Abia for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The commendation was made by State Health Minister Dr Adeleke Mamora on Sunday during the inauguration of the 50-bed ultra-modern isolation centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Dr Mamora, while describing the initiative as ‘exemplary and unprecedented’, added that the gesture was a display of patriotism and love for mankind, and the first of its kind in the battle against the virus in the country.

According to him, the initiative was a pointer that with patriotism, much would be achieved in national development through the synergy between private and public sectors.

Speaking at the event, the director-general, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the project demonstrated absolute patriotism of the Abia professionals. Quoting him, “This is the spirit of the people of the old who did not depend on government, but embarked on community development and people-oriented projects through communal efforts. Nigeria could have recorded more casualties but for some stringent measures taken by the federal government on the pandemic.”

Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, represented by his deputy, Ude-Oko Chukwu, said it was a thing of joy that COVID-19 had galvanised Abia natives to address an issue of common concern, and called for its sustenance.

The governor said, “It is noteworthy that in every bad situation, there is a positive side to it. This is the first time to see Abia citizens across party lines come together to address our common problem. Abia has so far recorded 909 cases of COVID-19 with 810 cases successfully managed and discharged in the two government molecular laboratories in Aba and Umuahia. The state currently has 10 active cases.”

The project initiator, Mrs Ngozi Ekeoma, who said the concept was to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state, added that the facility, christened Abia Care Centre, would handle the outbreak of any infectious diseases.

The chairman of the implementation committee of the project, Mr Johnson Chukwu, said 180 Abia citizens contributed the sum of N98m to execute the over N120m project. He further stated that the project was completed in 47 days, and thanked the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Fund and other public-spirited individuals for supporting the project with medical equipment.

The medical director of the FMC, Umuahia, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi, commended the patriotic spirits of the concerned professionals, and pledged optimal usage of the centre to achieve its objectives.

The senate minority leader, Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South senatorial zone in the National Assembly; Representative Sam Onuigbo, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, and a financial expert, Dr Alex Otti, expressed joy over the project.

The managing director of Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Investment, Uche Orji; group managing director of First Bank Holdings, UK Eke; Slot CEO Nnamdi Ezeigbo, Mrs Vanessa Dez-Ogugua, Dr Ngozi Azodoh, Elder Ekeoma Eme Ekeoma, Dr Blessing Nwagba, among others, graced the event.