Centre builds bridge worth N38m for Enugu rural communities

The Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC), in Umuchigbo, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Tuesday, inaugurated a bridge that connects some rural communities in the area to the hospital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Avah River
Bridge links Umuchigbo, Ifo, Ugbo-Ezeji and Ugbo-Paul communities in Enugu East Council Area.

The river hinders residents of the areas from accessing the hospital, initiated and built by the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation, and located at Anioma Layout, Umuchigbo.

Inaugurating the bridge, the Chairman, Enugu East Council Area, Mr Beloved-Dan Anike, thanked the Chief Executive Officer of GMC, Prof. Uche Amazigo, for initiating and completing the bridge.

He said the project would ensure inclusion of all the communities around the hospital, describing the services rendered by the hospital as “impactful and touching lives of the vulnerable and underserved”.

The council boss added that the project was in line with what his administration was doing in that area, saying that he had enrolled 5,000 poor persons for the Universal Health Coverage at different hospitals.

He said his administration was currently constructing a mini bridge and roads for vehicles and residents to access the area.

Anike however, pledged more partnership to transform the Local Government Area.

Speaking, Amazigo, the hospital CEO, said the bridge was an achievement that reflected the collective commitment to progress and community well-being.

Amazigo, a Nigeria’s renowned Pro-Poor Public Health Specialist, and former director, World Health Organisation (WHO), said the mission of the hospital was to partner with communities, the poor, vulnerable to support government initiatives.

She explained that she built the bridge through the support from her family, Anike, GMC and few friends.

“The minimum we calculated in building this bridge was about N38 million and over 75 per cent of that came from my family, then, the hospital, Anike and my friends abroad put in the rest.

“Aside financial challenges, attitude of people to projects that would benefit them affected us in a way but by the grace of God we are able to overcome,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to TY Danjuma Foundation for constructing and equipping GMC, to uplift lives in the communities.

She equally thanked Enugu State Government, the council chairman, international agencies and communities for their support.

“This bridge is a symbol of hope, progress, and unity. Thank you for making today special for the communities and Goodwill Medical Centre,” Amazigo added.

Mr Gima Forje, the Chief Executive Officer, TY Danjuma Foundation, hailed Amazigo, saying she delivered the hospital at record time and pledged continued support to the hospital.

The Chairman, Ifo Community, Elder Nnamdi Ayozie, commended Amazigo for providing low income earners like them, a world class health facility and the bridge saying that Ifo people would no longer be regarded as forgotten people.

“Our community can now access the hospital through the bridge without traveling a long distance to access the facility.

“We are appealing to the local government area to provide light at the bridge for security of users,” Ayozie said.

In a keynote address, a Trustee of the GMC, Prof. Anne Ndu, said the Centre was committed to improving healthcare in the disadvantaged part of Enugu State and neighbouring communities to a state-of-the-art health facility.

She revealed that Amazigo’s dream was to connect poor and disadvantaged communities to healthcare and other essential services as Avah River was a hindrance to her dream.

“For a long time, the GMC host community, Umuchigbo, and the adjoining urban slum communities of Ifo, Ugboezeji and Ugbo-Paul could not easily access healthcare and other essential services due to the Avah River, which constituted a major barrier to their transportation,” she said.

NAN reports that GMC is the brainchild of Prof. Amazigo, constructed and equipped by TY Danjuma Foundation (TYDF).