By Ben Ilechukwu.
Since his appointment as Chief Medical Director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in May 2019, Dr. Obinna Onodugo, has left no one in doubt of his capability to take UNTH to another level as a centre of excellence.
Having served in the previous administration as chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Dr. Onodugo, was already aware of the challenges ahead.
Enjoying the full support of the visionary UNTH board chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Umar, the young CMD wasted no further time before flagging off his reform agenda by embarking on several projects.
Within the past two years however, the CMD has given the hospital a face-lift, built a new spirit among the workforce and introduced new welfare scheme for them.
With growing need to satisfy the increasing number of patients coming to the hospital and provide a comfortable office to dispense drugs, Dr. Onodugo has last week commissioned a multi-million naira pharmacy complex and carried out fund raising to complete the hospital’s St. Anthony’s Catholic Church building that has Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Ogbonnaya as parish priest.
Despite lean financial resources, the CMD has carried two sessions of open heart surgeries mainly on poor patients. It is also a thing of commendation that since he took over in 2019, no staff Union has embarked on strike.
Highlight of his achievements so far is a total transformation of UNTH, as can be noticed with a visit to the centre of excellence.