Amauzari, Imo State: A Community’s Cry for Help
There are only a few communities in the world who have supported themselves and supported its citizens the way that Amauzari has done. An autonomous community located in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Amauzari has a population of about 50, 000 most of whom are peasant farmers and traders. Geographically, it is the gateway city to Amaigbo (Nwangele Local Government), Nkwerre (Nkwerre Local Government), Amandugba (Njaba Local Government), Ogwa (Ikeduru Local Government), Atta (Ikeduru Local Government) and Amaraku (Isiala Mbano Local Government) of Imo State.
Being one of the largest autonomous communities in Imo State, Amauzari deserves to have benefitted from support of both the Federal, State and Local Governments. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as the community whose arable soil has massively supported local food production is in serious neglect of the government at all levels.
From healthcare to education, water, electricity and access road, it is evident that Amauzari is yet to have its fare share of the national gains.
Road Access:
The people of Amauzari have suffered undue hardship due to lack of road access to this important community. Several governments have made uncountable promises to the community to construct the roads linking it to urban cities like Owerri the State Capital and Okigwe the regional commercial hub. All of the optimism and hope from those promises did not yield any meaningful result as the community is still completely cut off from urbanization.
It is the hope of the community that the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well the Imo State would come to its rescue due to the challenges faced by people of the community to transport their farm produce to the cities.
By its strategic geographical location, Amauzari is a major border community that provides the shortest land route connecting Isiala Mbano local government area with several neighboring local government areas including Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli.
It is expedient that the Government addresses the community’s situation urgently in order to support community to continue to feed the State and environs.
Healthcare:
The Amauzari Aladinma Community Hospital is one of the foremost community established healthcare centers in Imo State. Established in 1949, the hospital has a long standing history of providing care to people of Amauzari and its environs. Currently, the hospital provides services to people from over several Local Governments in Imo State, including, Isiala Mbano, Nwangele, Nkwere, Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Orlu, Ehime Mbano and so on.
The Amauzari Aladinma Hospital has survived through the sole support of Amauzari community through communal development initiatives, including infrastructural rehabilitation, and through donation by good spirited indigenes, and friends of Amauzari.
The hospital provides basic secondary healthcare facilities such as outpatient clinics, maternal and child health services, basic surgical procedures, diagnostic services, wellness and health promotion programmes etc.
With its history of service to the Amauzari people and neighboring communities, the hospital has needed a support from the government to continue to provide quality assured, affordable and accessible healthcare.
In line with the country’s efforts to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it serves a good interest and makes good economic sense to the government to strengthen institutions that are already providing services in order to continue to cushion the gaps of lack in access to universal and basic healthcare.
The government of Imo State should consider to refurbish the Aladinma hospital and equip it with modern facilities such as ultrasound sound scan, X-ray, functional laboratory and pharmacy, optimum operating theatre, nurses and doctors residences and so on. By so doing, it would maintain the provision of care to thousands of people that are already receiving care from the facility.
The Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) should also extend services to the facility, such as family planning services, HIV and Malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment programs, Diabetic Melitus and Stroke Prevention and Rehabilitation programmes amongst others.
The community has a well structured health oversight committee that’s available, willing and committed to partnering with such programs to maximize its objectives, and ensuring accountability in the delivery of services.
Dr. Chigozie Iwuagwu writes from Amauzari!
Being one of the largest autonomous communities in Imo State, Amauzari deserves to have benefitted from support of both the Federal, State and Local Governments. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as the community whose arable soil has massively supported local food production is in serious neglect of the government at all levels.
From healthcare to education, water, electricity and access road, it is evident that Amauzari is yet to have its fare share of the national gains.
Road Access:
The people of Amauzari have suffered undue hardship due to lack of road access to this important community. Several governments have made uncountable promises to the community to construct the roads linking it to urban cities like Owerri the State Capital and Okigwe the regional commercial hub. All of the optimism and hope from those promises did not yield any meaningful result as the community is still completely cut off from urbanization.
It is the hope of the community that the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well the Imo State would come to its rescue due to the challenges faced by people of the community to transport their farm produce to the cities.
By its strategic geographical location, Amauzari is a major border community that provides the shortest land route connecting Isiala Mbano local government area with several neighboring local government areas including Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli.
It is expedient that the Government addresses the community’s situation urgently in order to support community to continue to feed the State and environs.
Healthcare:
The Amauzari Aladinma Community Hospital is one of the foremost community established healthcare centers in Imo State. Established in 1949, the hospital has a long standing history of providing care to people of Amauzari and its environs. Currently, the hospital provides services to people from over several Local Governments in Imo State, including, Isiala Mbano, Nwangele, Nkwere, Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Orlu, Ehime Mbano and so on.
The Amauzari Aladinma Hospital has survived through the sole support of Amauzari community through communal development initiatives, including infrastructural rehabilitation, and through donation by good spirited indigenes, and friends of Amauzari.
The hospital provides basic secondary healthcare facilities such as outpatient clinics, maternal and child health services, basic surgical procedures, diagnostic services, wellness and health promotion programmes etc.
With its history of service to the Amauzari people and neighboring communities, the hospital has needed a support from the government to continue to provide quality assured, affordable and accessible healthcare.
In line with the country’s efforts to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it serves a good interest and makes good economic sense to the government to strengthen institutions that are already providing services in order to continue to cushion the gaps of lack in access to universal and basic healthcare.
The government of Imo State should consider to refurbish the Aladinma hospital and equip it with modern facilities such as ultrasound sound scan, X-ray, functional laboratory and pharmacy, optimum operating theatre, nurses and doctors residences and so on. By so doing, it would maintain the provision of care to thousands of people that are already receiving care from the facility.
The Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) should also extend services to the facility, such as family planning services, HIV and Malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment programs, Diabetic Melitus and Stroke Prevention and Rehabilitation programmes amongst others.
The community has a well structured health oversight committee that’s available, willing and committed to partnering with such programs to maximize its objectives, and ensuring accountability in the delivery of services.
Dr. Chigozie Iwuagwu writes from Amauzari!
May the good Lord hear our cries.
ReplyDeleteThis is a worthy revelation of the importance the Community called Amauzari. Govt., should be able to harness the Strategic location of this town as connecting Link to various local govt, nd towns.
ReplyDeleteAmen 🙏🏼💯
ReplyDelete