FG, Imo seal pact on Federal Medical Centre Okigwe

The agreement to convert the former General Hospital, Okigwe to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Imo State was sealed Wednesday, between the federal government delegation led by Iziaq Adekunle Salako, minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, and those of the Imo State led by Governor Hope Uzodinma.

This followed the conversation of the former Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to a Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

During the signing of agreement for the conversion of the General Hospital, Okigwe to a Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe, Governor Uzodinma commended President Bola Tinubu for the approval to establish a new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Imo State.

During the courtesy visit by the minister and his entourage, Governor Uzodinma expressed gratitude to the federal government for addressing what he described as a “longstanding gap in the state’s healthcare infrastructure.”

He recalled that following the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education, and the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, converted to the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Imo State has become the only state in the country without a Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

Read also: Why millions still lack access to life-saving medical tests

He said the Imo State Government had to appeal to the federal government which saw merit in the appeal and approved the siting of a new FMC in Okigwe.

“To facilitate the project, the state handed over the General Hospital, Okigwe, as the take-off facility. We are happy that this agreement is being executed today. The ultimate beneficiaries are the people of Imo State,” the governor said.

He thanked President Tinubu, Muhammed Ali Pate, minister of Health and Social Welfare, and the federal government for absorbing the hospital staff and pledged the state’s continued support to ensure quality healthcare delivery across Imo.

Salako, minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, had earlier, commended the Imo State Government for its achievements in the health sector, describing the state as one of the Federal ministry of health’s “flagship States” in healthcare delivery.

Salako praised Governor Uzodinma’s investments in primary healthcare, health insurance expansion and specialist medical services.

“We see what Imo is doing in healthcare and consider the State one of our most cherished partners in achieving universal health coverage,” he said.

The minister noted that the establishment of the FMC aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of bringing specialist healthcare closer to Nigerians and reducing medical tourism abroad.

He assured the state government of continued federal support, including funding, infrastructure and staff recruitment, adding that existing hospital workers willing to serve under the federal government would be retained after an audit.