Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri: Achigbu’s scorecard speaks for itself

By EMEKA OGARAKU…

Unarguably, Associate Prof. Kingsley Achigbu’s tenure, first as the Medical Director, the then (FMC) and now its pioneer Chief Medical Director as a Federal Teaching, Hospital, Owerri is a Success Story.

As a seasoned administrator from CMAC, A.g MD, before being appointed as its CEO, knows the accruing benefits of working in synergy with the workforce. He restored peace and industrial harmony among the staff, unions, and management as soon as he stepped in. This enabled them to buy into his vision of transformation.

The ambiance of conviviality and peace among staff and management exhibited during the centre’s 2018 Christmas cantata, still resonates till today. Workers at the Institution are no more pitched in groups. As new projects are being attracted, he is not oblivious to staff welfare.

They are motivated, trained and retrained to improve productivity. Obsolute equipment are replaced and new hitech ones purchased to enhance service delivery.

Through prudent management of scarce resources, the CMD and his team have been able to turn around the fortunes of the place. It is on record that for Eight and Half years of his leadership, the centre did not record a single internal strife, in a centre previously known for crisis. Research and trainings are going on ceaselessly. Doctors and paramedical graduates are being recruited on internship, while new members of staff are engaged as the need arises.

He is envisioning an Institution that will present to an average Nigerian, most answers to the health challenges, so that issues of medical tourism will be reduced.

Within this period in question, 2018 to the present, the hospital has expanded its bed complement to over 700 and attendance is in the excess of 300,000 yearly. With the number of ongoing projects in the centre, the bed capacity is projected to hit 850 by end of 2025. The facility has over 84 full time consultants and 46 part time consultants, 817 Nurses, Pharmacists. Others include 15 Physiotherapists, 322 Resident Doctors, Dental Surgeons, Ophthalmologists.

As a teaching hospital, they have the clinical capacity to attend to the healthcare needs of the of the state and beyond. They have the tripartite mandate of health care delivery, training and research. In his tenure, most areas of service have witnessed expansion both in infrastructure and scope and services with the establishment of a number of new departments as Community Medicine, Cardiac Surgery, Neurofacial Surgery, Mental Health, Assisted Reproductive Unit (IVF), ICT Department, Innovation and Hospital Ventures Unit.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

1. Transparency in government business, peace borne out of creating a level playing ground/equity and fair play for all.

2. Digitization of the hospital Electronic Management Record (EMR).

3. Upgrading of the hospital from Federal Medical Centre to Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri, a dream of over forty years.

4. Construction, Equipping and operationalization of the Renal Dialysis Centre (New Iwuanyanwu Complex).

5. Establishment/operationalization of the hospital crèche.

6. Construction, equipping and operationalization of the Research Centre.

7. Construction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) building.

8. Construction and equipping of the new Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) building.

9. Constructed fuel dump with two digitalized dispensers and nozzles to ensure proper stock tracking, accountability and management.

10. Construction and equipping of an Isolation Centre.

11. Construction of Plant/Generator house at the Amenity Ward.

12. Construction of additional toilets blocks for Ward 3 & 4.

13. Construction of car park for service vehicles.

14. Construction/Tarring of some internal roads leading to Histopathology Department, Accident & Emergency Department and Ward 10 & 11.

15. Construction, equipping and operationalization of the Umuamusa Outreach Centre.

16. Construction of Doctors quarters in Umuamusa Outreach Centre.

17. Reconstruction of FTH, Owerri perimeter fence which was pulled down during urban renovation exercise.

18. Reconstruction, renovation and relocation of Under-five (5) Clinic building.

19. Reconstruction and Re-roofing of walkway linking main-theatre to new Accident & Emergency building.

20. Reconstruction and Re-roofing of the walkway linking Labour Ward to old Accident & Emergency building.

21. Construction of Medical Oxygen Plant.

22. Construction and installation of the Liquid Oxygen Plant in collaboration with FMOH, FHI 360.

23. Installation of 60KVA Solar Grid in main theatre and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Complex.

24. Construction, equipping and operationalization of a new Neurosurgical Complex.

25. Installation of 30KVA Solar grid in General Out-patient Clinic in collaboration with the NDDC.

26. Installation of 30KVA solar grid at the Labour Ward, SCBU I building by the NDDC courtesy His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Imo State, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma.

27. Reconstruction and re-equipping of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU).

28. Provision of generating sets in all clinics to serve as an alternative power supply.

29. Installation of Solar Street lights around the hospital courtesy the NDDC, facilitated by His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Imo State, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma..

30. Establishment of a new Executive Clinic.

31. Re-tarring of the road from Second Gate to the Morgue.

32. Installation of Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras 24 hours surveillance at strategic places in the hospital.

33. Reconstruction, equipping and operationalization of Upper GI Endoscopy Unit.

34. Reconstruction and renovation of Main Theatre Complex.

35. Reconstruction of Ward 4 Obstetrics and Postnatal Ward and Special Care Baby Unit.

36. Reconstruction of the hospital Sports Field.

37. Renovation and reconstruction of Histopathology Building and expansion of the Morgue.

38. Renovation/reconstruction/expansion of the Main Pharmacy building.

39. Reconstruction of the hospital second gate.

40. Construction and equipping of Molecular Testing Centre/Portal Cabin.

ONGOING STRUCTURES

1. Construction of an Ultramodern Trauma Centre.

2. Construction of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Complex (nearing completion).

3. Construction of the Sub-specialist Outpatient Complex (nearing completion).

4. Ultra Modern 110 bed Medical Ward Complex with a Stroke Management Unit (nearing completion).

5. Construction of Eye Complex (nearing completion).

6. Ongoing construction of the hospital Central Stores Complex.

7. Construction of a new Auditorium (ongoing).

8. Construction of Food Court/Guests House (ongoing).

RENOVATED STRUCTURES

1. Renovated General Outpatient Clinic (GOPC) complex.

2. Renovated Amenity Wards.

3. Renovated Main Theatre Complex.

4. Renovated Pharmacy Department Complex.

5. Renovated/upgraded Umunama Outreach Centre.

6. On-going renovation of the Diagnostic Centre.

7. Renovated Emergency Paediatrics Unit/Wards.

8. Renovated Ward 12 and 13.

ACQUISITIONS

1. Acquisition and installation of 33KVA power plant to the centre.

2. Acquisition of 500KVA Caterpillar Engine for OPD.

3. Acquisition of 45KVA Generating Set for GOPC/NHIA.

4. Acquisition of a brand new Nissan Stallion NV350 18 Seater Bus

5. Acquisition of a brand new Toyota Hilux Van.

6. Acquisition of Ambulances.

7. Acquisition of new UPS sets for the Main Theatre.

8. Acquisition and Installation of complete set of inverters for Accident & Emergency Ward, Emergency Paediatrics Ward, Labour Ward and Intensive Care Unit, Ward 2, 9 and Maxillofacial/Eye/ENT, Ophthalmology, Isolation, Research Laboratory, Automation, IVF, Executive Clinic etc.

9. Acquisition of State-of-the-art Incubators.

10. Acquisition of new set of Split Unit Air Conditioners at the Main Theatre.

11. Acquisition and Installation of a brand new Incinerator behind Histopathology Department.

12. Acquisition and Installation of boreholes for House Officers Quarters, Dental Clinic and Laboratory.

13. Acquisition of a Liquefied Oxygen Plant

LIST OF AMBULANCES ACQUIRED

1. Japanese Nissan Patrol with Emergency Resuscitation Equipment.

2. Hyundai Hi Ambulance fully equipped.

REVIVAL AND RECOVERY

1. Recovery of long abandoned 250KVA generator.

2. Repair of C-Arm Machine in the Main Theatre.

3. Revival of fluoroscopy machine in Radiology Department.

4. Revival of Gas Plant in Nutrition and Dietetics Department.

5. Revival of Mammogram Machine.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROJECTS

1. Industrial peace in the Centre.

2. Training and Re-training of staff in different Cadres.

3. Reintroduction of payment of staff emolument/allowances.

4. Reintroduction of payment of shift duty allowance which is also geared towards motivating staff.

5. Posting one of the best COVID-19 response in collaboration with the State Epidemic Unit in the country.

6. Reconnection of Amenity Ward to PHCN after many years off grid.

7. Opened and created a new Burns Ward.

8. Establishment of Assisted Reproductive Centre (IVF)/services, currently ranked one of the best outcomes in the South East of Nigeria.

9. Establishment and operationalization of hospital Creche.

10. Establishment and operationalization of Executive Clinic.

11. Establishment and operationalization of Pain Clinic.

12. Establishment and operationalization of Special Care Baby Unit II and Mothers Ward.

13. Establishment and operationalization of Clubfoot Clinic.

14. Establishment and operationalization of Super Stores/Intervention Pharmaceutical Stores

15. Establishment and operationalization of Community Medicine Department

16. Establishment and operationalization of Mental Health Department/Services.

17. Establishment and operationalization of Cardiothoracic Surgery Services.

18. Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.

19. Diploma in Anaesthesia Programme.

20. Addition of 2 new outreach centres at Nlauoma and Ngor Okpala

21. Massive donation of supplement by the NPHCDA courtesy the FMOH and the DD-NPHCDA facilitated by our dear Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma.

STAFF TRAINING

1. Paediatrics Cardiology

2. Interventional Cardiology

3. Paediatric Endocrinology

4. Interventional Radiology

5. Vitenoretial Surgery

6. Glaucoma

7. Paediatric Ophthalmology

OTHER PROGRAMMES

1. Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri Outreach at Nkweme

2. Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri Outreach at Ngor Okpala

3. In collaboration with the State Ministry of Health effectively fought COVID-19 to a successful stop placing the state with the top 5% in outcome in COVID.

RECENT ACCREDITATIONS

1. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

• Full accreditation: 5 years for National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Surgeons.

1. Paediatrics

• Full accreditation: 5 years for West African College of Physicians.

1. ENT

• Full accreditation: 5 years for West African College of Surgeons.

1. Anaesthesia

• Partial accreditation: 2 years for National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Surgeons.

1. Radiography

• Full accreditation: 4 years for Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria.

1. Physiotherapy

• Partial accreditation: 2 years for Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria. This is just a tip of an ice berg compared to the preponderance of landmark achievements of the trailblazing Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri.

No doubt, the upgrading of the FMC to a Teaching Hospital and the provision of these high impact projects will surely improve the healthcare delivery of our people in the state and beyond.

Asso. Prof. Achigbu ‘s management style is in consonance with the hospital’s mission of providing excellent, accessible health care services, using modern technology, training, and research with continuous capacity building in a friendly, conducive environment. His sterling legacy will inspire the incoming helmsman as his tenure is gradually winding up.

Your employer, Mr. President; your supervisory Ministry and our amiable Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma deserve kudos for the repositioning of this hitherto Federal Medical Center into a Teaching Hospital.

Your indelible footprints will make them be proud of you.

To God be the glory. Amen.

(Mr Ogaraku writes from Owerri)