By Leonard Okachie
The Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, has recorded another milestone with the formal handover of rehabilitated facilities, new staff, and medical equipment to the hospital management.
The intervention, powered by the U.S.-based Nigeria-focused healthcare organisation, Quantus Medical Foundation, in collaboration with the Abia State Ministry of Health, was presented on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the collaboration is through its WeCare Nigeria cum Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative (AHCRI).
The goal is to strengthen compassionate, accountable, respectful, and excellent care in public hospitals across Abia.
Mr Uzoma Onyeka, the Patient Liaison Officer (PLO) Manager for the foundation, said it handed over newly rehabilitated patient toilets, 10 newly employed uniformed porters, and 10 uniformed cleaners to ABSUTH management.
“This will help to restore patient dignity and help in patient satisfaction. That is what we did today,” he said.
He noted that the donation of essential medical equipment including blood pressure monitors, glucometers, and pulse oximeters to the Accident and Emergency and Casualty units was aimed at enhancing patient experience.
“Our watchword is that no emergency patient is turned away.
“The foundation is doing everything within its powers to make sure that every patient that comes to ABSUTH goes with a positive experience,” Onyeka added.
He explained that Quantus Foundation operated with a “CARE” matrix — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — which was already driving a culture change at ABSUTH and other facilities under AHCRI.
Onyeka said that the initiative was also active at Abia Specialist Hospital Umuahia, Aba General Hospital, and University Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
Also speaking, the PLO Team Lead at ABSUTH, Mr Bernard Egbe, said the Patient Liaison Officers employed and trained by Quantus Foundation served as a link between patients and healthcare providers.
“The PLOs help patients with flow, guide them on procedures, resolve minor issues, identify bottlenecks, and escalate higher issues.
“Since the PLOs came, there have been testimonies of issues being resolved easily and amicably. The staff are also adapting. We have noticed a lot of culture shift,” he said.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of ABSUTH, Prof. Nneka Okoronkwo, commended Gov. Alex Otti for reviving the hospital.
She said the hospital “was in coma” before Otti’s administration due to salary arrears and dilapidated equipment.
“Immediately God sent His Excellency to us, he did not leave the health sector behind. He decided to start rebuilding from the rubbles,” she said.
Okoronkwo noted that with the governor’s intervention, ABSUTH had regained NUC and Medical and Dental Council accreditation.
She described Quantus Foundation’s deployment as “a big blessing” to the hospital.
“They are not just telling us what we need to do concerning patient care, they are also lending helping hands.
“They gave us a laptop for medical records, helped renovate toilets, and today they donated equipment for blood sugar and oxygen saturation,” she said.
The CMD added that with ongoing government investment, ABSUTH is being positioned as a centre of specialty care, with plans for kidney transplant, expanded dialysis, and full electronic medical records.
Stakeholders at the event expressed appreciation to Otti, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, and Quantus Medical Foundation led by Dr Nnenna Ihekoromadu, for the partnership.
They said the initiative is aimed at delivering compassionate, accountable, respectful, and excellent care in public hospitals across Abia.
( NAN)
