Enugu Rep Okechukwu Bags award of Excellence for outstanding service

The Deputy Minority Leader of house of representatives and Member  representing  Anniri/Awgu/Orji River federal constituency Hon. Toby Okechukwu  on Thursday  baged Award of excellence  from   Pharmacy departments  of the University  of Nigeria  Teaching Hospital  UNTH Ituku ozalla for Outstanding services he is rendering to the institution.

The  CMD of the teaching hospital Dr Obinna Onodugo  conferred  the award on him on behalf of the pharmacy  department  during the ground breaking ceremony  of the pharmacy  house  which was attracted by  honorable Toby Okechukwu.

Dr Obinna Onodugo who  thanked and appreciated  the federal lawmaker  for his giant strides, according  to him,  his constituents stands tall as an epitome of good Governance and efficient representative.

"The people of Anniri, Awgu and Orji River  constituency are  indeed blessed for having such a young, dynamic, resourceful, accessible and responsive gentleman as their Representatives .

"The ground breaking  of the pharmacy house, we are doing today is the first of its kind  in Nigeria and was attracted by  Honourable  Toby and  he has been at the  top  making  sure the project  continues and completed" he said.

Onodugo  during the  presentaion of   the award  said the the pharmacy  and the entire teaching hospital have  seen  his vibrancy, and today we found him  worthy to confer him with the award of excellence in outstanding  services he is  rendered  and still rending to the institution.

Responding, to this, Hon. Toby Okechukwu who highlighted how he came  about  attracting   the pharmacy  house building, he said was as a result of work well done by the department  of pharmacy  during Covid-19  pandemic, when they produced  a very good covid sanitizer  for him and it was tested and trusted so he then believed that  if they are given more opportunities, they would  produce other things that they can be of help to all.

"According to him also, it is to create an enabling environment  for the pharmacists to pratice their trade and to contribute to the Community.

"More importantly, my expectations is that  they get involved  in most of the activities  they promised  like the Conferencing, hospitality,and manufacturing that they will be able to employ people .

"The only thing i require from them is to get my people gainfully engaged because  we are doing this essentially for job creation. That is the only way you can sustainably employ  young people by establishing outfits that can keep them busy" he stated.

He also appreciated the CMD of the teaching hospital, described  him as a  labour man who is always ready to work, he stated that Dr Onodugo  demonstrated his  labour qualities  by consulting  all the stakeholders he needed to consult  and sought  for their help, that is what is  yielding  this progress today in the hospital, according to him, "is when you made known your problem  to people that is when it can be solved".

Speaking during the ground breaking , Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, the National  president  of pharmaceuticals Society of Nigeria  thanked Hon. Okechukwu   who he said God has used to attract this great project   to the institution.

"I thank Hon. Okechukwu  whom God has used  to attract this significant project  to this great  institution , indeed they say when the righteous is  on the throne,  the people are rejoice, that is why we are rejoicing today.

"This Pharmacy  house is a significant one and first of its kind in Nigeria.This is where the pharmacists will exhibit and demonstrate  all the country has invested  in this category of profession.

Pharmacists often are not seen in the hospitals, they are hidden behind counters, behind rooms but this will project them because  it will show their capabilities and capacities in terms of doing what they call compounding or hospital manufacturing. So they are not going depend on imported products  or drugs they buy from  pharmacy Companies, they can produce in  the institution  pharmacy house  for the institution  what they need  with specific  need of patient  in mind , exemperanous preparations drugs that will be made specifically  for patients , we dont have it here  sometimes you're  given the wrong dose because there is already a packed dose .

"This will give them the opportunity to  manufacture  some  certain products  that are readily  available that are used in the hospital  community , drugs and medicaments that are specific for this environment .

"This, he also stated, will be an opportunity  to create additional  income to supply  other services to the hospital  and demonstrate pharmaceutical care to their patients , to interract with patients  as to know which drugs to use" he stated.

The pharmacy  house  which is already at   the  decking level is expected  to be  completed and commissioned by next year  and it  includes   an Auditorium for Conferencing , Hospitality suites  offices and manufacturing  units.

Dignitaries  present  at the event were the CMD of UNTH Dr Obinna Onodugo, Tha National president  pharmaceutical  Society  of Nigeria (PSN) Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa,

The representative  of Vice Chancellor of  UNN, Professor  Nwagha the Provost of college  of medicine,   Heads of departments, The Dean of faculty  of medicine Cajetan Chigozie Onyedum,  The state Secretary  of PDP Chief  Cletus Akalusi, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, former Commissioner for Information  Enugu state, Chief Barr . Eze O. Eze former permanent secretary Government house Enugu. Chief Ralph  Onovo aide to former Deputy Senate president, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, former Commissioner for special duties  Chief Uche Anioke, Chief Egwuonwu Obasi, former secretary  Awgu local government , Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, President  General  Ohanaeze  youth council  worldwide.