Imo govt moves to validate concession of 14 general hospitals

Unveils traffic management, enforcement task force
In its bid to strengthen the healthcare sector, the Imo State Government, yesterday, announced plans to validate and regularise 14 concessioned general hospitals in the state.

The hospitals concessionaires had reached an agreement with the former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration before he left office in 2019.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Public Enlightenment, Eze Ugochukwu, the concessionaires were directed to meet the Commissioner for Health, Success Prosper Ohaghaya, tomorrow for necessary formalities.

“Under the Okorocha administration, 14 of the 27 uncompleted hospitals were concessioned to institutions and organisations. The management of the hospitals are required to meet with the Commissioner for Health at the State Secretariat, Owerri tomorrow at 11:00a.m,” the statement reads.

The health facilities comprised the general hospitals in Umundugba; Umuchima; Okigwe; Obinze; Okporo-Orlu; Orieubi; Old Ogwa and Egbema.
Others are general hospitals in Agballa; Ngor Okpala; Ikeduru; Obowo; Umuezeala and Amaraku

“The Imo State Ministry of Health has, therefore, scheduled to meet managements of the afore mentioned hospitals on Thursday, March 3, 2022 by 11:00a.m. at the state Secretariat in Owerri,” the statement added.

MEANWHILE, in its determination to enthrone sanity in the transport and motor traffic areas, the Imo State government has inaugurated the Imo State Traffic Management Agency (ISTMA).

Performing the ceremony in Owerri, Commissioner for Transport, Chief Rex Anunobi, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ogunsanya Bimbola, said the team would be supervised by the ministry and ordered the dissolution of other task forces on the road.

He warned them to shun corruption, extortion and harassment of members of the public and other road users.

Anunobi listed other members of the enforcement team to include some members of the Imo Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), who will be deployed with Point of Sales (POS) machines and mobile courts to be constituted by the State Ministry of Justice.

He also explained that the ISTMA would enforce compliance with traffic rules and regulations, as well as ensuring closure of all illegal motor parks in the Owerri municipality in line with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s directive on the state government’s “Shared Prosperity” Urban Renewal Programme.