Emma Elekwa
Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku-Awka, Dr. Maureen Umeakuewulu, has said the hospital is on course to become a leading trauma care centre in Nigeria’s Southeast.
Speaking during a press briefing to mark the start of her administration, Umeakuewulu said the vision would be driven by the ongoing construction of a world-class trauma centre and the installation of modern equipment by the Anambra State Government.
She described the initiative of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a critical intervention in a previously neglected area of healthcare.
She noted that the facility would provide comprehensive trauma services for patients across the region.
“I am confident that in the coming months, the COOUTH trauma centre will become fully operational.
“We trust the governor’s commitment to the health sector and believe sustained investment will transform this hospital,” she said.
The briefing formed part of a series of engagements with stakeholders aimed at assessing the hospital’s needs and building partnerships for its transformation.
Umeakuewulu, a consultant gynaecologist, expressed gratitude to the governor for her appointment and said she was committed to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
She outlined a broad reform agenda focused on three key areas: improved service delivery, staff training and retraining, and strengthened research.
On service delivery, she said the hospital would transition to a fully computerized system to replace manual processes.
According to her, this would reduce delays, eliminate inefficiencies, and curb revenue leakages.
“We want to deploy technology to simplify processes, reduce corruption, and improve patient experience.
Easy identification
“Our goal is to build a system where inefficiencies are quickly identified and addressed,” she said.
She also revealed plans to revive underperforming units and expand services so the hospital can attract patients from within and outside Anambra State.
Umeakuewulu highlighted the absence of a cancer treatment centre in the state as a major gap and disclosed plans to establish one, despite the high cost involved.
“It is unfortunate that patients must travel out of the state for cancer care.
“We are working toward establishing a cancer centre and believe the government will support its realization,” she said.
In addition, she said the hospital would strengthen its orthopaedic and radiology departments by recruiting qualified professionals and upgrading facilities.
The CMD also pledged to secure accreditation for residency training across all departments, building on the progress made by previous administrations.
On capacity building, she said the hospital would partner with local and international institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange and improve staff competence.
She added that telemedicine services would be expanded to reach patients unable to access care physically.
To support research, Umeakuewulu said the hospital would pursue grants and collaborations, noting that government funding alone was insufficient for sustained medical research.
She called on wealthy individuals from Anambra State, both at home and abroad, to support the hospital through donations, infrastructure development, and patient care funding.
“We plan to establish an endowment fund to enable philanthropists and partners contribute to improving healthcare delivery.
“This is our hospital, and we all have a role in making it work,” she said.
Strengthening satellite facilities
The CMD further announced plans to strengthen the hospital’s satellite facilities, enabling healthcare professionals to extend services to rural communities.
She emphasized the need for an effective referral system that would ensure patients from primary and community health centres receive timely and adequate care at COOUTH.
Addressing maternal health concerns, Umeakuewulu described Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate as alarming and stressed the need for urgent intervention, particularly in rural areas.
“We must tackle the high number of women who die during childbirth outside hospitals. Strengthening community healthcare and encouraging hospital-based deliveries will be critical,” she said.
She reaffirmed her commitment to transforming COOUTH into a centre of excellence across multiple medical fields, with improved infrastructure, skilled personnel, and enhanced service delivery.
