Enugu neuropsychiatric hospital seeks assistance to solve infrastructure challenges

The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, has urged the Enugu State government, organisations and philanthropists to assist it in solving some of its major facility challenges.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Monday Igwe, made the plea, yesterday, during the Merit Award Ceremony and Foundation Laying of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Multi-Purpose Complex.

He said that the issue of water supply was a great challenge and “is eating seriously daily into the scarce resources of the hospital’’, adding that the state could help by connecting the hospital to the state public water system.

“Once we are connected, the issue of buying water from tanker drivers to meet the water need of our patients, visitors and members of staff will be a thing of the past,’’ he said.

He said that the state government and organisations could help the hospital solve its yearly challenge of flooding that destroys office equipment and medical instrument/machinery anytime it happened.

“We need the government or any public-spirited organisation or individual to help us de-silt the blocked waterway to the hospital and construct bigger drainage that could hold the water in its channel and this yearly destruction caused by flood would stop forever.

“Others are payment of the increasing electricity bill, renovation of almost all the structures in the hospital that are dilapidated and old since 1962, and people touched can periodically help in paying medical bills of abandoned psychiatric patients,’’ he said.

On the Merit Award, Igwe said that it was meant to honour those that helped to bring lasting peace in the hospital after a protracted period of disharmony and disagreement.

“We are honouring them as they have allowed themselves to be used by God and other peace-loving members of staff to restore peace, unity and bond in the hospital,’’ he said.

Also, Chairman of the management board of the hospital, Chief Shuaibu Shaban, urged the state government, organisations and philanthropists to assist the health institution in any way they could, saying: “I personally plead that the CMD’s address on our challenges should be given consideration for we to serve our brothers and sisters admitted here better.

“We are appealing that you come to our aid for the sake of humanity, which you people represent.”

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in his response after receiving the Legend of Peace and Infrastructural Award, said that he was elated that an institution could spot out his modest achievements.

Ugwuanyi, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, said that the award would spur him to do more for Enugu State and humanity at large.