By Akuma Ebere
Achalagu-Umuoji community in Idemili North local government area, Anambra state has counted its blessings as one of their sons, Chief Linus Ilozue has built and donated a primary healthcare centre to his community.
Eminent dignitaries at the event included, Dr Chris Nnedu; Chief Mich Anagu; Sir Ifeanyi Muoemenam, the Trransition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Council Area, Chief Chuks Igbonaugu; former Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Prof Anthony Igweegbe; other top government functionaries; clergymen; community leaders who stormed Achalagu for the commissioning of the healthcare centre.
The Anambra state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike who cut the tape was duly represented by the Director Disease Control and Immunization, Anambra state Development Agency, Dr Nnamdi Uliagbafusi.
Addressing newsmen, the donor, Chief Ilozue who is a member of Board of Trustees, Achalagu Community Development Association and also Director Chicason Group expressed happiness to have seen his dream come true and thanked God for a successful project completion. He disclosed that the aim of building the hospital was for posterity.
“My reason for building the healthcare facility is to have something that will outlive me and what I will be remembered for when I might have embarked on a journey of no return.
“When they call Linus Ilozue, they will say yes he was the man who built this hospital. I have been praying to God to show me something to do for the benefit of my generation and posterity, then this idea came up and it pleased me to do something for the people because at the end of the day you will be remembered by what you did to help humanity, what you did for the less privileged and not what you did for yourself.
“My advice to my community is that let them help to protect it, make sure that they get their due supply from government, “he said.
He used the medium to appeal to the government to always give them their own share for the maintenance of the health facility.
Contributing, the President General, Umuoji town, Sir Ifeanyi Muoemenam who was radiating with happiness described the day as a day of joy. He commended Chief Ilozue for his kind gesture.
Sir Muoemenam noted that school, market and hospital are among the major infrastructure projects that attract development in any community, expressing gratitude to Chief Ilozue for using his wealth to attract further development in Umuoji through the primary healthcare centre he built for the community. He prayed for good health and longevity for Chief Ilozue and his household.
Sir Muoemenam seize the occasion to appeal to the TC Chairman to use his office to attract further infrastructure project to the community.
In their separate remarks, the TC Chairman and the Chairman of the inaugural ceremony, Chief Mich Anagu, thanked God for a job well done as they further expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for Health for counting their health centre worthy for service.
In a special way they appreciated the donor, Chief Ilozue, whom they described as a man who always felt the impulse of his people, having committed his personal resources to build a state-of-the-art health facility for his people.They prayed God to bless the donor.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of Achalagu community, Hon Nonso Ekpunobi welcomed everyone to the event which he described as not only historical to Achalagu but to Umuoji in general.
He expressed gratitude to the donor of the healthcare centre, Chief Ilozue, describing the effort as a show of love for his people and giving back to society. He noted that the people appreciated the thoughtfulness of Chief Ilozue for building health facility which he said would serve the community and its neighbours.
Hon Epkunobi recalled that before the commissioning of the health facility, that more than twenty successful child delivery had been recorded, adding that more lives had been saved through the professional approach under the headship of Mrs Ifeoma Onyekwulune.
Hon Ekpunobi, however, prayed God to protect and prosper Chief Ilozue and his family for the gift to humanity.
