Ohaukwu Chairman Moves to Transform Healthcare, Begins Diagnostic Centre, Blood Bank Construction

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr Paul Ituma has commenced the construction of a diagnostic centre and blood bank at the Primary Health Centre, Ngbo Maternity, Ngbo Court Area, to curb the maternal death rate and improve health care services in the area.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony at Ngbo maternity premises, the council boss says the project would be completed and commissioned within 50 days.

According to him, “the decision to establish the facilities was informed by my experiences gathered during my house internship where I witnessed pregnant women who lost their lives because they could not afford basic medical tests, medicines and blood transfusions.

“So my administration as the council in Ohaukwu is to improve on the health care services, providing modern equipment and fund so that no woman in Ohaukwu should lose her life simply because she lacked money for medical tests”, he stated.

Ituma who is barely 40 days in office said that upon completion, pregnant women in the various rural communities in the area would access laboratory tests and blood transfusions services for free.

He noted that the council would collaborate with young medical scientists of the council indigenes to source blood for the facility, adding that sensitization programmes would be taken to remote communities to promote preventive healthcare and maternal health awareness.

“The diagnostic centre will feature a modern medical laboratory, ultrasound and scanning facilities, as well as a standard blood bank for safe blood storage and donation.

“And this project aligned with the People’s Charter of Needs of the governor in the area of addressing healthcare delivery across Ebonyi State,” he explained.