How Iyi-Enu Hospital stopped Nigeria’s Medical Tourism abroad by Sir Oselloka Offoh

The Iyienu Mission Hospital Ogidi in Idemili North has recorded an unprecedented growth and transformation over time and has more or less becomes Nigeria’s flagship for medical excellence.

The hospital was established in 1907 as the oldest hospital east of the Niger.

By the strategic central location of the hospital Iyienu Mission Hospital makes both primary and secondary health care services accessible and affordable to the people of Anambra State especially those within Onitsha zone.

The vision of the founding fathers of the hospital which was summed up in their motto: “To preach and to heal” is being realized through the zeal and unflinching commitment of Mission-Diocese on the Niger to make the hospitals the best in Nigeria. Run on the wheels of Christian principles which focus on excellence in healing, research and teaching the hospital has overtime attracted the attention of the government and other stake holders.

 The shell Nigeria exploration and production company(SNEPCO) in partnership with Nigeria National petroleum Company (NNPC) last year spent over N300million on projects and procurement of ultra modern hospital equipment at Iyi-Enu Mission hospital Ogidi. These 21^st century hospital equipment now functioning at iyi-Enu include multi dimensional kidney analysis and breast screening centres, the 1^st of its kind in the state.

According to the managing director of the shell petroleum Dr. Chike Onyejekwe, who spoke during the commissioning of the center the choice of Iyi-Enu mission Hospital for assistance was based on its record as one of the oldest    in the south east and commitment of the management in rendering health care delivery. Cancer patients in the part of the world now find great relief  by visiting the hospital for proper screening, while those with kidney problems get due attention in the hospitals.

 Kidney dialysis centre. This mission hospital which had not recouded any known industrial dispute since inception speaks volumes of the Diocese on the Niger-owners of the hospital. Medical tourism in South East recouded a big boost, when the Emeka Anyoka Diagnostic and dialysis center was commissioned in the IyiEnu Mission Hospital by former Governor Peter Obi, who was also born in the hospital.

The center is the pet project of Chief Anyaoku who last year raised over (N100million) towards establishing it at the hospital, his birthplace some 82 years ago. The hospital has now become the pride of the people of South East. The was why former Governor Obi at the commissioning of the Emeka Anyaoku Dialysis center announced over half a billion naira in the revitalization the level of transformation at IyiEnu. State government at that occasion announced an additional donation of N100million to further equip the hospital and two buses for its school of nursing, when is providing the best in nursing education and health care practices.

Today the Iyienu Mission hospital is setting a pace in Medicare, functioning with 5 advanced dialysis machines with efficient renal care at low cost. It has good working clinic days with their consultant nephrologists.

Being a first class hospital in the South East, dedicated machines for RVD and other ailments are available. Rev. Ikechukwu Okwosa is the hospital Administrator while Dr. Eric Umeh is the consultant Radiologist. The scanners in use at the hospital are so digitized that it detects anomalies from three different areas in the body.

The Center takes charge of the diseases of the lung, abdomen and kidney, even the machines are used for studying the diseases of the bones. Some of the machines sighted at the hospital Dialysis center which are equivalent to what you find in best hospitals overseas including X-ray clips, CT SCAM, CT Imaginary, even there is a Mammography first of its kind in this part of the world. Also available in this center of medical excellence are ultra sound cardiographs, Digitizer, Echo-cardiograph, ECG to mention but a few. It is a one stop Dialysis center with affordable charges according to Dr. Umeokafor Chijioke, a doctor in the Radiology Department.

Anambra stakeholders see the IyiEnu project as an example of what can happen when the government, missions and private individual work in concert for the common good. They believe that a well equipped, well managed and well funded and functional hospital like IyiEnu would go a long way in cutting down the costs of Nigeria’s medical tourism that was bilking some N250 Billion from Nigeria annually. Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo is of the view that support for Iyienu represents the classical case of best practices and evidence- based positive return on investment. This hospital has therefore become another medical hope for the Nigerian nation. That’s why the former commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku wants Nigerians to access the facilities at the hospital to upgrade their health status.

 Sir Oselloka Offoh, Consultant on Media to the hospital