Enugu Community Leaders Hail ATASP-1 for Providing Modern Health Clinic for Rural Farmers

By Olisemeka Obeche

Residents of Ibenda autonomous community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state have commended the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase One (ATASP-1) for providing them access to high-quality healthcare to enhance food productivity and quality of life.

The Traditional ruler of the community, HRH, Igwe Remigius Ogbuishi who spoke on behalf of his subjects during the official unveiling of the newly equipped 14 Bed Health Clinic built under ATASP-1 on Saturday, November 11, described the commencement of healthcare services at the clinic as a dream come true for residents of the community. The monarch thanked the management of ATASP-1, Adani-Omor zone for providing a high-quality healthcare center for them, and the Enugu state government for their support of the program in the state.
Earlier in his brief remarks, the Zonal Programme Coordinator, ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, Dr. Romanus Egba, explained that the project was cited in the community based on needs assessment and expressed joy that it has started providing the much-needed medical services to residents of the community.

Egba also thanked Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah for the great support his administration has given the program with the approval of the counterpart funding, stressing that the fund had provided the wherewithal for the construction of perimeter fencing and staff quarter at the health clinic for adequate security and proper service delivery.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Ibenda Community Project Management Committee, Pharmacist Casimir Odo, described it as a turning point in the history of healthcare delivery in the Ibenda autonomous community. He disclosed that Ibenda was an agrarian community with a high disease burden and had suffered untold hardships in the area of healthcare delivery services.

“Our people depended heavily on traditional medical practices to ameliorate their health condition due to the absence of healthcare facility in the area. We have to travel very far places to access modern healthcare services because none was in our place. On numerous occasions, our people suffered health complications and lost lives while trying to access healthcare services in faraway places.

Therefore, our hearts know no bounds today as we mark the official opening ceremony of Ibenda Health Center”, Odo said, even as he assured that the facility would be secured and maintained.
In his goodwill message, the President General of Ibenda town union, Dr. Ernest Ugwu, thanked ATASP-1 for coming to the rescue of the community, describing it as a legacy project.

The high point of the event was the inspection of the wards and facilities supplied under ATASP-1 by the management team of ATASP-1 led by Dr. Romanus Egba and members of the Ibenda Community Project Management Committee led by Chief Casimir Odo as well as the official opening of the center by the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Remigius Ogbuishi.