In a fervent appeal within the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, the esteemed representative for Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, passionately advocated for the establishment of additional Federal medical facilities in the South East region. This call to action transpired during a recent debate on the floor, centered around the bill for the creation of the Federal Medical Centre, Ugwuaji.
Expressing deep concern, Atu lamented, “It is sad that there are only three Federal medical centres in the entire South East region despite the considerable medical gap that exists.”
The representative drew attention to the invaluable lessons gleaned from the crucible of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Health is a crucial matter in any nation,” he declared. “It is largely known as an indispensable tool, important in every aspect of our national life.”
Atu further underscored the critical need for improved healthcare accessibility, asserting, “Unarguably, one of the lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic was the need to have good and sustainable health coverage for all citizens. Thus, physical access to this infrastructure will play a significant role in improving the health status of the masses and increasing the needed manpower.”
Painting a vivid picture of the pressing situation, Hon. Atu elucidated, “My constituents are in dire need of a Medical Centre to fill a huge gap and address the concern of those whose future will be guaranteed by establishing a Federal Medical Centre.”
In an earnest plea to his legislative peers, he implored, “I plead with my colleagues to allow the bill to pass through the second reading.” After a thorough and impassioned debate, the bill successfully cleared this crucial hurdle, marking a significant stride toward the establishment of the first Federal Medical Centre in Enugu State.
This development adds another chapter to Hon. Atu’s legislative record, as he has consistently championed healthcare initiatives. All eyes now turn to the next steps in the legislative process, with anticipation building for the potential transformation of healthcare accessibility in the South East.