Ndi Imo | Imo medical city will drive development in multiple sectors-Prof. Bond Anyaehie
Imo medical city will drive development in multiple sectors-Prof. Bond Anyaehie
In an exclusive interview between the Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Public Enlightenment, Prince Eze Ugochukwu and Prof. Bond Anyaehie, a medical doctor, Health management consultant and Professor of Physiology/Clinical measurement at UNN, currently the Provost of IMSU College of Medicine and also the chairman of Imo Health and Investment Summit, the theme of the Imo State Health and Investment Summit was explored and other topical issues discussed
Q May we get to know you and your role as regards the Imo State Health and Investment Summit.
ANS I am Prof. Bond Anyaehie, a medical doctor, Health management consultant and Professor of Physiology/Clinical measurement at University of Nigeria Nsukka and currently Provost of Imo State University College of Medicine. By the grace of God, the chairman of Imo Health and Investment Summit
Q The theme of the Summit is networking opportunity for investment in the health sector. What does this entail.
ANS Literally, summit means highest point of a hill or mountain. Thus, we are bringing together leaders of both the private sector and public sector to interact in a conducive environment, initiate discussions at highest levels, all towards palpable milestones that will form the new path for our health sector. We are thus engaging Government to reach a level of planning that is easy for private sector to tap into. There is thus too much underground work now to make the health sector a good bride to handsome grooms.
Q There is sub-theme about establishment of the Imo Medical City. What are we to expect from this medical city when it materializes.
ANS The Imo medical city is an initiative that promises to drive development in multiple sectors. The benefits to the overall economic development as well as health is inestimable. The Government will designate a place officially as Imo medical city, offer land there to serious organisations and companies in health and allied sectors. The money realised from this will be used to provide infrastructure in the city. The investors will receive tax relief incentives for some years and will be expected to complete construction within a few years. It is a win- win for all. It will attract globally competitive companies, hospitals, diagnostic service providers in a particular place. The city will also boast of drug warehouses owned by drug manufacturers for sale of authentic drugs, housing area for expatriates, shopping mall with banking activities and other complementary services to make it a self sustainable city on its own. We expect the area to become the last bus stop for any medical need. It will be a place where you can get same service you can get anywhere in the world. It will bring our medical personnel back and also attract others.
Imo will become a medical tourism destination, more local jobs will be created beginning from conception to commissioning and even after. A new area will be developed too, because nearby towns will become attractive to investors.
Q We have uncompleted buildings in the 27 LGAs previously designated as hospitals but non-functional. Are we going to somehow incorporate their usage in the Summit discussions.
ANS We are looking for partners for the hospitals via 2 strategic paths. You will recall that some of them have been given out to NGOs by previous governments. Regrettably, some of them have not been able to make meaningful use of the facilities. We are interacting with them to know how we can assist them by matching them to new partners that can work with them. In other words, we will be providing support to those that have been allocated the facilities to put them to use. Secondly, we will be preparing some of the other ones for investors to look at and see how they can make them useful. We have thus included tours to some of them on the last day of the summit. However, a pictorial analyses of some of them will be provided during the summit. We will also be talking with willing investors to look at the Imo Emergency centre. We want it to be operational as soon as possible.
Q What is the role of private sector in this summit as potential investors.
ANS The summit is to bring government closer to the private sector. Close enough to see each other as partners. Close enough to hug in a way that everyone will smile. The present government understands that private sector has a major role to play if we want sustainable development.
Q The Imo Diaspora community. Are you assessing them as participants to the Summit so as to not only contribute their ideas but as those capable of investing in the health sector.
ANS This is an area very dear to us. If we can build their confidence, half of our job is done. We need all the assistance we can get to let them know that Imo is safer than the news is projecting.
