Initially, I took the development with a pinch of salt. When my tabloid broke the news that the only state owned specialist hospital at Umuguma, New Owerri and ten other General Hospitals scattered across the state have been sold to a private organization, Lantech Solutions to manage for 15 years, I felt it was a ruse and a figment of the writer(s) imagination despite the fact that newspaper backed their report with a verifiable fact or evidence; a letter purportedly written by the Imo State commissioner for Health, Dr Obi Njoku intimating the hospitals management Board of the state of the agreement with Lantech Solutions Ltd to manage the hospitals on behalf of the state government.
For emphasis and record purposes, a letter dated 18th July, 2012 with the title, RE-HANDOVER OF HOSPITALS TO LANTECH SOLUTIONS LTD, signed by Commissioner J. Obi Njoku, the state government in the said directive to the Chief Executive of the Hospitals Management Board, asked the management to arrange a joint inventory with officers of the Lantech Solutions as contained in the agreement prior to the formal handing over.
Moreso, the story added that a Muslim Northerner from Kaduna known as Dr Ibrahim is the Chairman of the outfit. Again, after waiting for government reaction to the story, since the exclusive news hit the newsstands on Thursday 2nd August 2012, the Owelle Rochas Okorocha government kept mute until recently when the Leader Newspapers¸ a Catholic tabloid in the state confirmed from Dr Obi Njoku that truly it was leased to Lantech and he reasoned behind the action.
To confirm that the Imo Trumpeta expose is a reality, few days ago, I spotted a white-coloured hummer bus with Lantech Solutions inscription on the Specialist Hospital/ Umuguma Road, while the state Governor Okorocha during Monday’s interactive session with Independent Newspapers publishers in the state stated reasons for the concession.
Before I commence. Let me use this opportunity to clear the air on what “Agwodinuju” the sign post for this column means.
Divergent views have continued to trail the name since the commentary page debuted on Sept 30, 2011. The first to draw my attention for explanation was one of my greatest pals in the pen profession in the state, Gele Agbai of Newspoint which prompted me to explain the meaning the next edition.
However, the need to refresh readers especially those who missed that edition on the meaning of “Agwodinuju” reared again last Thursday on my way to Obiangwu Ngor Okpala in company of some fellow ex- seminarians.
A fellow pioneer student of Matter Ecclessiae Seminary Nguru Mbaise, Berock Njoku was burying the wife that day and in our usual comradeship and brotherhood decided to share the sorrow of the wife’s demise. I joined a senior student and president of St Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala Old Boy’s Association, Owerri Branch, Prince Ogidi Ibeawuchi Anyanwu (Obolobo) who accompanied the Mater Pioneers (82 set) on the sympathy visit. Inside the car, an argument ensued between Ogidi and the next occupant at the back seat who is my classmate, Uchechi Obasi (Mr President) on the meaning of Agwodinuju. The matter almost led to a verbal war. Their position amused me because none was near what Agwo- di-nuju means. For them it was different interpretations until I opened up to settle the matter.
However, they urged me to amplify my explanations to enable uniformed readers like them understand what the trademark of the column means. For the sake of many who misconstrue the meaning of Agwo- di- nuju, it is a peculiar name common to the people of Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State. Like I stated in the second edition of this column, Agwo- di- nuju, literarily means a snake in its cave, dungeon, or habitat without looking for any body’s trouble but poised and ready for action. So Agwo means snake, di means in, n’uju means cave. Aside from the literal meaning, Agwo-di-nuju, connotes greatness courage and boldness to an average free born Umuagwo person. And that is why it is common to brand somebody doing any great thing in the corrupt Ikwere language Umuagwo people speak as Agwo-di-nuju, we ima aka meaning snake in its dungeon one cannot dip hands into to avoid being bitten by the snake. So the name is peculiar to the people of Umuagwo. It is intoxicating and can fire one to more action. It is not “snake in sorrow” or “snake in large quantity” as some feel. I hope my explanation satisfies the curiosity raised by my friends and others who do not understand the meaning.
Back to the Lantech Solutions. I have carefully listened to reasons adduced by government for the privatization of the Gen Hospitals. Apart from not having anything to show for the huge monthly allocations running into several millions, the present administration described the general hospitals it met when it took over power as “mere shanties” not suitable for human treatment, hence the resolve to hand it to a private firm for managements while government will build 27 new ones in all the local government in the state. Owelle Okorocha claimed that in one particular general hospital, record has it that only four (4) patients were treated in a year whereas not less than N60m was released within that period. He wondered how N60m could be used for only four patients in a year. Again, he named some others General Hospitals battling with over grown weeds and dilapidated buildings before he assumed office. According to the Governor, the state of the hospitals was in contrast to his “health at your door step” programme, hence the decision to upgrade the Umuguma General Hospital to a Specialist Hospital, building of a Dialysis Centre on Concorde Road, New Owerri, and building of 27 new General Hospitals in the state. Following the uproar that greeted the handing over of General Hospitals to Lantech Solutions, and government position on the matter, I tried to conduct intensive study on the issue and sampled opinions.
First to react on the matter was a bosom pal who resides in the United States of America and an Imolite who calls me regularly to make inquiries about state of affairs in our dear state and also discusses on salient issues concerning the present administration.
On reading the story on www.imotrumpeta.com, which he says has become his favorite website on latest developments in Imo State, my friend who has soft spot for Owelle government told me that his “man” got it wrong this time. “Yea tell him it is wrong to privatize Government Hospitals.
It can only be practiced in certain climes like US, and UK, not Imo State where poverty reigns. No, no, no, tell him it can’t work. Hospital bills and services are high in our place not to talk of when it is privatized. What do you expect? The firm managing the hospitals will only come in to make money which our people cannot pay. No, it is a wrong policy. Our people should not allow that”. My friend using uncouth languages against the Governor for the first time we interacted summed up. He informed me further that there is a health insurance scheme where ones healthcare is assured.
But that can only be effective in developed world not the developing ones like Nigeria.
Health, he said should be something near free in our locality. Again, I took time to visit the Specialist Hospital, formerly General Hospital, Umuguma. Contrary to my expectations, there is nothing to show that it is a specialist Hospital different from the General Hospital days, except the new sign post indicating change of name. I even noticed that the influx of patients seeking medical attention at the hospital established by the Achike Udenwa regime has greatly reduced.
Before the present administration came into power, visitors to the Umuguma General Hospitals and staff alike go through hell to find a parking space within the hospital complex. But today, the story is different. The hospital is a shadow of itself. When this writer probed further, a medical doctor who spoke under anonymity disclosed that things have changed and patients are no longer comfortable with the “new arrangement” where private operators are handling the hospital. The source revealed that while the hospital was initially handed over to a local operator, who is a medical professional based in the state, the medical laboratory unit was also handed over to a key player in the present government. These developments led to mass transfer of workers out of the General Hospital Umuguma, baptized Specialist Hospital. If it was a doctor to 20 patients what is going on at the hospital is one doctor to 50 patients. A pregnant woman due for deliverance disclosed that irrespective of the fact that she registered and attends occasional ante-natal care at the hospital, she will go to a private hospital or the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for delivery. When I requested for reasons, the woman who identified herself as Mrs Ngozi Ochonga said the hospital lacks adequate staff. Said she “I had my first and second children here some years ago. I know how the medical personel available responded to me. But things have changed for now. You will queue for long before a doctor or nurse attends to you. And even when they do, it is money. Any touch is money even after wasting your time. I am not impressed. I am surprised at the new approach. Everything is money any time they touch you unlike the past”. At that point, I tried to move round to see further developments and nothing new different from the past when it was General Hospital. Government is taken a wrong approach to the privatization policy. It might be a good idea but the application is suspicious and capable of evoking invectives against the present administration. I wrote last year when Okorocha muted the idea of privatization of Government Ministries, agencies and parastals, that the policy if not properly handled, could be the greatest albatross of the Owelle Okorocha regime in the state. I agree with the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, who in a recent press briefing expressed that handing over the General Hospitals to a company owned by a Muslim Northerner is not the issue but was due process followed. And that is where Government should receive some knocks. Imo State is not part of Okorocha’s expansive empire or Rochas Foundation where the people should be kept in the dark on affairs that concern them. The Governor should not wake up one morning using his executive powers to surreptitiously sale what belongs to the state to unknown establishments and persons. Except he is told to withdraw some of this excesses, Okorocha may not know his bounds. The government hospitals were established by Law and for any alteration, the members of the House of Assembly must give approval for the Governor to go ahead. But in our dear state, the reserve seems to be the case. How would state hospitals be leased or concessed without lawmakers knowledge or nod? Even government failed to inform the public until the inglorious deal was exposed by a private print media organization. It all amounts to insensitivity on the part of government. I want the Okorocha administration to borrow a leaf from the regime of Udenwa government. Before Concorde Hotel was handed to Rhas, Chris Okewulonu the Information Commissioner of that era did brief journalists during the weekly briefing of the ministry meant to intimate newsmen about plans by the state government to lease Concorde out and the interested bidders who have shown interest. And journalists would be given update. When Rhas finally won the bid. The press were invited and Rhas management was showcased to the media where it was revealed that the Lebanese would manage it for about 12 years and would pay the state a certain amount running into several millions. Journalists present at the briefing asked questions on the issue and were cleared on grey arrears. Nobody remembered that it was a Lebanese-owned firm and a Muslim family. Nobody feared that bombs could be planted in the hotel and food could be poisoned. This past aspect is different from the present where the Okorocha regime breeds communication gap between it and newsmen in the state. How can a state lease the Imo Transport Company ITC, to PortHarcourt-based Guinea Cana Company without adequate publicity? No wonder the company which was asked to take over the Imo Water Corporation, IWC, United Metering Company, for 20 years, has abandoned the parasatals and developed wings two weeks after operation. But the generality of Imo people are not aware. Who are these companies? Who brought them? What are their interests? Why didn’t government make the bidding process public? Why is government making the privatization a close door affair? What are the antecedents and pedigree of these companies taking over Imo establishments? Who is behind Lantech Solutions? Where have they managed state hospitals before and why has Dr. Ibrahim not done it in his Kaduna home state? The claim that Lantech Solutions is a London Company is lame because it has a registered corporate office in Abuja. Who is fooling who in Imo? And who thinks Ndi Imo na mugu? Will government hand over the 27 new General Hospitals to Lantech Solutions on completion? Since the present government is on Rescue Mission, why can’t it make General Hospitals better in its Rescue Spirit than privatize it? Is that the only solution? Will health workers who will cater for patients at the hospitals come from the moon? Many questions that need answers. I advise the Okorocha administration to eschew self-destructive tendencies in order to make Imo Better.
