FMC Umuahia awaits hospital upgrade as CMD advocates federal varsity

Reasons have been adduced for why the Federal Government is yet to convert the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria, the FMC, Umuahia to a teaching hospital.

The Chief Medical Director of the FMC Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, who the staff have dubbed ‘Mr. Project’ disclosed that one of the reason is the absence of a conventional federal university that offers medical sciences courses in the state.

Onyebuchi stated this while speaking after a two-day programme of Thanksgiving Day and a guided tour of facilities for unions in the centre.

Onyebuchi lamented, “FMC Umuahia is the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria and it is a shame that we are not a teaching hospital yet.”

He pleaded, “We are appealing to our political leaders in Abia State to come in unison and go fight for the establishment of a conventional university that will be offering Medicine as a field of study. I can assure you, that once they start the College of Medicine anywhere around here in Abia State, FMC Umuahia will become a teaching hospital, and that is why we are putting up this infrastructure in anticipation that this place will soon become a teaching hospital.”

Though the state has universities that offer medical sciences, they are not a prerequisite for the centre to become a teaching hospital as they are private or state-owned universities.

Onyebuchi took the union leaders on a guided tour of the new infrastructure he built at the centre, which includes the Accident and Emergency ward, the Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory Complex, the New Orthopedic ward, the New National Health Insurance Scheme building, Okpara Ward B (Paediatric) upgrade, Psychiatry Ward, Neurosurgical (40-bed) complex, an ultra-modern (10-suites) Theater Complex and Outborn Neonatal Complex.

Others include the House Officers Quarters Complex, the 20-room Guest House, and the resurfacing of roads round about the entire hospital, among others.

The FMC CMD averred all these and more to be realized between January and March 2025, were to live up to expectations with regards to the performance bond he signed with the Federal Ministry of Health to meet up with the set target.

He described funding to tertiary hospitals in the country as having tremendously improved, adding, “However, all the funds I need to meet with my targets have not been received, but what is important is that the funds you have been given, how have you been able to manage them?”

The FMC Umuahia CMD disclosed that ‘Japa’ syndrome has been a major challenge to FMCs in the country, expressing his happiness that the Federal Government has made replacement of those who left, easy.

Earlier in Thanksgiving Day, Prof. Onyebuchi assured his staff that the “management under my watch will make sure FMC Umuahia is one of the best in the world. I am doing my best so that history will take care of me,” disclosing that he has been able to attract increased budgetary allocation for the centre, promoted staff as and when due, paid all promotion arrears, as well as encouraged staff relationship with all and declared staff welfare as his priority.

He added, “We will continue to prioritize your welfare.”

In his admonition, the Methodist Church Nigeria Bishop of Umuahia, His Grace, Bishop Chibuzor Raphael Opoko, urged the staff of the FMC, Umuahia to respect their seniors in age and in work, urging them to avoid backbiting. He advised everyone desirous of any position in the centre to wait for his turn, adding, “People don’t want to work, but are jealous of those who work.”

Union leaders on the guided tour were from the Medical and Health Workers Union, the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, among others.