By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Thursday, commissioned a private hospital, Stevecelia Hospital and Maternity, built by Prof. Frank Okafor, in memory of Mr and Mrs Stephen Okafor, his late parents.
On the motivation for citing the hospital in his home town Ogidi, he said that “I was born along the road, by the time I was born, around 3-4 am, my mother was in labour and the husband have to take him to hospital, and after climbing the first hill, the woman couldn’t continue, one available woman, one Mrs Nwosisi, become an emergency midwife.
“After going through that stress by my parents, i told myself that I am going to build a hospital, this hospital here, you can check your kidney function test, liver function test, it is more diagnostic than therapeutic.
“I offered insurance for 100 people above 70,75, but after realising that the state insurance scheme is 12,000 a year, may be I will increase it to 1000 people.
He expressed satisfaction that his dream of having hospital for his parents has been fulfilled and thanked God for a job well done.
He reiterated his resolve to ensure good health for the people of Ogidi community adding that charity begins at home.
Earlier, the Governor who was ably represented by his Commissioner for Health, Hon. Afam Ben Obidike,on cutting the tape to declare the hospital commissioned, expressed satisfaction that Prof. Okafor brought the hospital to the door step of the rural people for easy health care.
He stressed the need for the people to embrace the Health Insurance scheme of the State Government where a token of #12,000 is paid yearly by a family to help curtail the financial health cost of the people.
Reacting, the traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Pharmacist Alex Oyido, expressed satisfaction with the citing of the hospital in the area and called on other good spirited individuals to emulate Prof. Okafor.
His words, “I am amazed with the sophisticated medical equipments that I saw in the hospital. I commend the Prof and urge the people to now go to the hospital that is well equipped.
In his own contribution, the President General, PG, of the community, Chief Ikwuka Okoye, said that he is happy that good things were coming to the community during his administration as the PG.
“I am very happy that these things are happening in my own time as the PG. I commend the Prof, Igwe Ogidi and others who contributed towards the success of this commissioning,” he stated.
In his contribution, High Chief Stephen Ibegbu commended Prof Okafor for the well equipped hospital and urged good spirited individuals to emulate such.
