DR. UMEAKUEWULU CHARTS DIGITAL, PATIENT-CENTRED AND SPECIALIZED FUTURE FOR COOUTH
Posted On: 2026-04-12 09:14:59
DR. UMEAKUEWULU CHARTS DIGITAL, PATIENT-CENTRED AND SPECIALIZED FUTURE FOR COOUTH The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, and his wife, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, for finding her worthy to be appointed to the position. She described the opportunity as a call to serve and assured that her administration would be guided by excellence, accountability and improved service delivery. She reaffirmed her commitment to building on existing achievements while working collaboratively with stakeholders to reposition the Teaching Hospital for optimal performance. Addressing various media houses including ABS, Ogene FM and Odenigbo FM on Tuesday, 24th March 2026, Dr. Umeakuewulu responded to concerns from different quarters and outlined her vision for the institution. She emphasized that service delivery remains central to her administration, stressing that anyone who comes to the hospital should leave healthier. She highlighted plans to fully computerise the hospital to eliminate the manual handling of folders, laboratory results and scan reports, explaining that results would be digitally transmitted directly to doctors, while drug dispensation would also follow an integrated digital process. She also noted the need to strengthen SERVICOM to ensure patients are properly guided and satisfied, adding that the institution is expected to evolve into a centre of excellence in the coming years. Dr. Umeakuewulu observed that the state currently lacks a dedicated cancer centre and emphasized the urgent need for one to be established. She used the opportunity to appreciate the Governor for the trauma centre project, expressing confidence that in no distant time, COOUTH would become a major referral hub for trauma cases in Southern Nigeria. She expressed optimism that the Governor, whom she described as committed and result-oriented, would support the realization of the proposed cancer centre. Dr. Umeakuewulu also commended her predecessors for their contributions to the growth of the hospital and stressed the importance of securing accreditation for all departments to enable residency training and boost professional development. She further disclosed ongoing efforts to collaborate with both international and local organizations to reposition the hospital to global standards. Dr. Umeakuewulu called on Anambrarians of goodwill and captains of industry to invest in healthcare infrastructure, in line with the Governor’s Public-Private-Community Partnership initiative. According to her, such partnerships would help expand services and provide the quality healthcare facility desired by the people of the state. Speaking extensively on referral systems, Dr. Umeakuewulu underscored the need to strengthen collaboration between primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions to bridge existing gaps. She explained that improved referrals would significantly reduce mortality, particularly maternal mortality occurring outside the hospital. She also reiterated her commitment to improving workers’ attitude to enhance patient experience, noting that professionalism, empathy and accountability among staff would remain a priority under her leadership.
Public Relations Office
COOUTH Amaku, Awka.