COOUTH CMD DELIBERATES WITH ECEWS TEAM ON STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP DURING FAMILIARIZATION VISIT
Posted On: 2026-07-03 12:34:02
COOUTH CMD DELIBERATES WITH ECEWS TEAM ON STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP DURING FAMILIARIZATION VISIT The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, on Tuesday, 30th June, 2026, received a delegation from excellent community education welfare service, (ECEWS)led by Dr Adeoye on a familiarization visit to her office. The visit was aimed at congratulating the CMD on her appointment and reinforcing the longstanding partnership between the organization and COOUTH, while also formally introducing the organization's activities within the hospital. Speaking during the visit, the team leader introduced members of the delegation and expressed appreciation to the CMD for the warm reception accorded them. He explained that ECEWS is a reputable international health organization with over 4,000 personnel deployed across several states of the federation and operates three major molecular laboratory centres in Nigeria, one of which is domiciled at COOUTH. He disclosed that the organization currently has about 31 support staff working within the hospital and has continued to collaborate with the institution in strengthening diagnostic and laboratory services. The team leader further explained that the organization works in partnership with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose support has made the establishment and continued operation of the hospital's Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory possible. According to him, the organization provides alternative power supply through dedicated generating sets and is currently upgrading the laboratory's solar power installation to ensure uninterrupted operations. He also highlighted the organization's commitment to continuous capacity building through regular training, mentorship, and exposure of staff to advanced centres of excellence within and outside the country. He commended the management of COOUTH and the laboratory team for the successful outcome of the most recent accreditation exercise, describing the PCR Laboratory as fully compliant with required standards and one of the best-performing laboratories in the region. He further noted that although the laboratory is owned by COOUTH, its operations are supported through international partnerships and have expanded beyond HIV testing to include integrated programmes such as Hepatitis, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and other molecular diagnostic services. He assured the hospital management that the organization would continue to keep COOUTH informed about emerging technologies, innovations, and global best practices in molecular diagnostics and laboratory medicine. Responding, Dr. Umeakuewulu expressed profound appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their continued partnership with the hospital. She thanked the organization for choosing COOUTH as one of its major centres for molecular diagnostics and commended the professionalism with which the PCR Laboratory is being managed. According to her, the laboratory remains the only facility of its kind in the South-East and has continued to project the image of COOUTH as a centre of excellence in medical diagnosis and research. The CMD used the opportunity to brief the delegation on the transformation agenda of her administration, noting that several strategic reforms are already underway to reposition COOUTH as a world-class teaching hospital. These reforms include the digitalization of hospital operations, deployment of the Remita payment platform to promote financial transparency and accountability, establishment of consultant-led private wing clinics, development of Immunochemistry Laboratory services, renovation and facelift of hospital wards, reticulation of oxygen pipelines, and procurement of modern medical equipment. She explained that these initiatives are all geared towards improving healthcare delivery, enhancing patient satisfaction, and positioning the institution for global recognition. Dr. Umeakuewulu further observed that the PCR Laboratory possesses enormous untapped potential beyond its current scope of operations. She emphasized that the facility could serve as a hub for cutting-edge medical research, innovation, and advanced molecular diagnostics, thereby creating greater value for both the hospital and its development partners. She also identified inadequate power supply as one of the major challenges confronting the institution and appealed to the organization to extend its support beyond the PCR Laboratory by assisting the hospital in improving its overall power infrastructure. According to her, the laboratory cannot function optimally in isolation, as effective healthcare delivery depends on the seamless operation of other interconnected departments within the hospital. She added that COOUTH's strategic location and wide patient population provide an excellent environment for clinical research, innovation, and collaborative scientific studies. The CMD concluded by expressing appreciation to the organization for upgrading the laboratory's solar power system and appealed for even stronger collaboration in areas of infrastructure development, research, training, and institutional capacity building to ensure sustainable growth and improved healthcare delivery. The Chief Medical Director received the delegation in the company of members of her management team, including the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ifeoma Njelita; Head of Accounts, Mr. Wilson Ezeilo; Head of Nursing Services, Mrs. Angela Nebo; Head of Administration, Mrs. Chioma Ibekie; Head of Internal Audit, Mrs. Uju Ejiofor; Head of Laboratory Services,Mr Okey Ume; Public Relations Officer, Agbai Henrietta N.; and other senior staff of the hospital.
Public Relations Office
COOUTH Amaku, Awka