Achigbu and New Face of Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri

By Chinedu Opara

Dr Kingsley Achigbu's emergence as the Medical Director of the then Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, was not accidental. It  was divinely orchestrated. He was sent on a rescue mission by God, because when assumed office the hospital was facing many daunting challenges. Some of those problems were: poor  infrastructure, paucity of human resource, industrial disharmony and inefficient and abuse prone administrative and management systems, among others.

Being on a divine mission, the new MD was provided all the enablements he needed for the critical task ahead of him by God. And five years on all indications are that he is close to completely rewriting the history of the institution. *He has  transformed it tremendously, replacing its old and uninviting face, with a new alluring and inviting one* . Dr Achigbu's achievements are so clear and loud that even the blind can  see them and the deaf hear them. This no doubt is why Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, is now a reference point in excellence locally and nationally.

 Standing tall as his number one achievement in his five years on the saddle, was  the securing of teaching hospital status for the institution. Any wonder within and outside the institution it's generally agreed that it will be greatest  legacy he will bequeath the institution.

It's not hard to understand why this opinion is rife.For over five decades before his tenure,converting FMC to teaching hospital had  remained a major issue. Almost all past heads fought tooth and nail to actualize it. They fought for it because they knew  it will come with multiple benefits.But, try as much as they could, the dream remained elusive!

But, Dr Achigbu hit the ground running on it as soon as he took over. He had taken time before he took over to understudy and analyse the challenge. He found out why those before him did not succeed in the quest and proffered solutions. Thereafter,he swiftly moved into action and before people knew what was going on, he had achieved upgrade.

This is why the institution is now wearing the new and higher identity of Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri, FTHO. And as expected the new status came with a barrage of positives, prominent of which is upgrade in operations from one to three. Before the upgrade FMC was only  healthcare delivery centre. Today, it's engaged in triple duties of  healthcare delivery, training and research. Job creation, manpower security and global standards healthcare delivery are some of the dozens of add on  benefits that will come with this new dawn.

His achievements in infrastructure and associated needs has also been phenomenal. He has over sixty projects under his belt. They include: upgrading, restructuring and equipping of Renal Dialysis, construction of research centre, construction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) building, construction of Central Sterile Services Department,CSSD, construction of fuel dump with two digitalized dispensers and nozzles, construction of an Isolation Centre, construction of roads leading to Histopathology Department, Accident & Emergency Department, and Ward 10 &11, and construction of House Officers quarters in Umuamusa Outreach.

Others are: construction of Trauma Centre, construction of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic/Maternity Ward, construction of Specialist Outpatient Clinic, and renovation of Nursing Complex, renovation and equipping of Umuamusa and Umunama Outreach Centres. These are just few of his projects.

Dr Achigbu as a forward thinking leader has also revolutionized management and administration with digitalization. All management and administrative services in the institution are now internet driven. Like administration he is also on the verge of  extending the digital revolution to health service delivery, with the commencement of telemedicine.

Before his ascension the institution was a hotbed of industrial crisis. But, that is now in the past as  the CMD has closed that chapter. He changed the game with his worker centric policy, which prioritizes  workers welfare and well being. He puts the worker first because he knows that, without well motivated and trained staff his efforts to make FTH Owerri the benchmark for measuring teaching hospitals in the country would be in vain. In appreciation of his genuine efforts towards improving their welfare and well being, the workers are now giving their best, leading to highly improved service delivery.

Dr Achigbu, the affable,   unassuming and consummate medical expert and administrator,  is truly a man with the midas touch. Within five years he has completely changed the face of FHT Owerri, in service delivery and infrastructure. This the reason it's one of most sought after health institutions in the country, today.