The federal government, on Tuesday, unveiled an ultra-modern intensive care unit (ICU), maternity, and an oxygen plant at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Ebonyi State.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, unveiled the new facilities at the centre.

Kachollom, while inaugurating the edifice, commended the management team of NOFIC for its efficient and effective transformation of the hospital.

She said that the hospital, being the first fistula centre in Nigeria, has saved many lives of women and others since its inception.

“I’m impressed with what I saw in the hospital, the facilities and infrastructure. Ebonyi has grown past other states in terms of equipment and facilities. I charge you people for service delivery and treat patients with utmost care.”

The medical director of NOFIC, Dr Johnson Akuma Obuna, said that the new ICU complex and oxygen plant were geared towards achieving some mandates, such as prevention of fistula, manpower development/training, and free treatment.

He said that the new maternity complex has been fully funded, while the oxygen plant, which is fully functional, produces about 96 cylinders of 40 cubic centimetres each per day.

Obuna said that the hospital supplies oxygen to neighbouring hospitals and generates revenue for the hospital, saying that the oxygen will be piped to all the wards.

The medical director appealed to the federal government for an intervention fund to re-asphalt the premises of the hospital, which he said has collapsed. (The Sun)