COOUTH CMD RECEIVES AHNI DELEGATION TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE MANAGEMENT
Posted On: 2026-07-03 12:36:11
COOUTH CMD RECEIVES AHNI DELEGATION TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE MANAGEMENT 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 Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative(AHNI) led by Dr. Elizabeth Anyanwu as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between the hospital and the organization in the management of substance abuse and related health challenges. The visit was in response to the CMD's earlier request for the organization to outline specific areas in which it could support and add value to the hospital's healthcare services. Speaking during the meeting, the team leader introduced members of the delegation and expressed appreciation to the CMD for granting them the audience. She explained that the organization's MATLAB Unit is dedicated to the treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery of individuals battling substance use disorders. According to her, the NGO is committed to expanding its partnership with COOUTH and has already secured approvals for some essential laboratory investigations required for its patients. She appealed to the hospital management to consider subsidized charges for these basic investigations to enhance access to care for patients enrolled in the programme. She further disclosed that the organization would continue to donate wound-care and injury treatment materials for use not only within the MATLAB Unit but also in other departments of the hospital. In addition, she highlighted the organization's commitment to staff capacity building through training programmes, as well as counselling and rehabilitation services for healthcare professionals struggling with substance abuse. She also noted that patients requiring specialized care would be referred to COOUTH, thereby contributing to increased patient patronage and internally generated revenue for the institution. Responding, Dr. Umeakuewulu commended the organization for its remarkable contributions to substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation and thanked the delegation for considering COOUTH a worthy partner. She acknowledged the impact of the NGO's interventions within the hospital and assured the team that management would carefully review their request for subsidized laboratory investigations, balancing the need to support vulnerable patients with the hospital's responsibility to generate sufficient revenue for its day-to-day operations. The CMD particularly appreciated the organization's initiative in providing counselling and rehabilitation services for healthcare workers affected by substance abuse. She observed that health professionals are often at increased risk of exposure to controlled medications and other substances due to the nature of their work, making preventive counselling and early intervention essential components of occupational health. She described the initiative as timely and highly beneficial to the hospital community. Dr. Umeakuewulu further encouraged the organization to expand its intervention within the hospital by developing a more structured and comprehensive treatment facility with dedicated service units capable of supporting both patient care and research. She also recommended the provision of an independent power supply system for the unit, which could simultaneously support neighbouring departments and improve service delivery within the hospital. The CMD urged the delegation to engage their sponsoring partners with a view to securing increased funding that would strengthen the collaboration and enable the implementation of more impactful healthcare interventions. In her closing remarks, the team leader thanked the Chief Medical Director and members of her management team for their warm reception and constructive engagement. She assured the management that the organization would review the discussions and return with more practical proposals aimed at deepening the partnership and delivering mutually beneficial outcomes for both COOUTH and the patients they jointly serve. The Chief Medical Director received the delegation alongside members of her management team, including the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ifeoma Njelita; Head of Administration, Mrs. Chioma Ibekie; Head of Accounts, Mr. Wilson Ezeilo; Public Relations Officer, Agbai Henrietta N.; and other senior staff of the hospital.
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COOUTH Amaku, Awka