My dear colleagues,

May I use the occasion of this Easter celebration to thank the top management staff, all the heads of departments, heads of units and sections, and indeed all the staff of our great teaching hospital, for all the good work we have been doing to ensure delivery of quality health care to the nation.

The last few weeks threw up a serious challenge to us all, as our safety within our work environment was seriously threatened. Two of our colleagues were abducted within our premises. We thank God that they are both safe now, and in good health.

The event however reminded us that despite the few measures we took after the abduction of one of our doctors last year, a lot more needed to be done, most of which are way beyond what we as management can deal with on our own. We have since engaged all the stake holders involved; Enugu State Governor/Enugu State Government, Federal Ministry of Health, all the State security apparatuses, the host communities/vigilante groups, security consultants, many well-meaning individuals, and our staff at different levels and in different capacities.

The summary of the measures we have all agreed to quickly institute include:

1. To complete the perimeter fencing of the hospital, which we have started, but have not completed, because it is a massive project.

2. Urgent deforestation of the massive grounds of the hospital, which we have started.

3. Construction of four security towers around four edges of the massive compound, to enable easy danger spotting.

4. Provision of CCTV surveillance cameras in strategic areas of the hospital, and surveillance/call center for effective monitoring 🙏🏿and coordination.

5. Provision of a Hillux van for joint security patrol.

6. Provision of firearms for the new UNTH neighborhood watch, which we are already halfway gone in creating.

As we thanked the Executive Governor in a special way for the way he mobilized all the security apparatuses of the state, to ensure the safe release of our staff, we pleaded with him to quickly come to our aid for the measures outlined, and he is working on our requests already.

We also thank the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, for the interest they have shown in this matter.

We thank the GOC of 82 Division Enugu, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the state Forest Guards, the Director of DSS Enugu State, and their wonderful teams for their ongoing commendable roles.

There are many other individuals whom we are grateful to for the effort they made in those dark hours we all went through.

Finally, we thank you our wonderful staff for the way you have stayed strong and have conducted yourself very commendably during those dark days, and even now. Be rest assured that we are doing all in our powers to ensure our work environment is fully secured.

May the grace of the risen Christ abide with us as we continue to give our best for the teaming Nigerian population that we serve.

Happy Easter to you all.

Prof Obinna Onodugo
CMD