20 YEARS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – MARCH 2022

The 20 Years Anniversary celebration of St Marys Children and Community Hospital Umuowa Orlu was held on 18th March, 2022.  The ceremony started with a pontifical high mass, led  by the catholic Bishop of Orlu, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma. This was  concelebrated by a host of many other priests and clergy from within the Orlu catholic  diocese and beyond. Highlights of the ceremony was the commissioning of the ultramodern world class building housing the Children & Adolescent Complex. This was built by Kindermissionswerk Germany for the benefit of children in our region. It houses the children’s wards, paediatric surgery, adolescent wards, and the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.{NICU}. The NICU is a fully equipped  level III newborn special care and intensive support unit for premature children and other newborns with special needs and needing respiratory and intensive care support. It also featured the exposure  of the Dialysis and Adult  Intensive Care Units.  The Medical Director , Dr Obi Onukogu noted that St Marys  has  the only functional Dialysis Unit  in the whole  Orlu region, and the hospital has rendered comprehensive renal care to more than 500 patients since the establishment of the Renal ( Kidney) Unit last year.  Other units commissioned included : the Endoscopy Unit, the Wound Dressing Unit, the New 300L fully automated blood banking unit , Hematology and Virology Screening Unit, and Central  Oxygen Delivery Systems Unit. In his address , the founder and president , Rev Fr Dr Sergius Duru expressed his profound joy for the growth, expansion and advancement of our hospital the past 20 years.  He noted that the idea of our hospital started in 2001 ,when he finished his studies in Germany. His friends – Uzondu Group had initiated and grown this hospital project since then. He noted the giant strides the hospital has shown in Maternal and Child Health, Ophthalmology , Physiotherapy, Dialysis, Intensive Care, Surgery, Endoscopy, Diagnostic Medicine and Family Medicine. The ceremony attracted a lot of dignitaries and guests.  The Ministries of Health,  Women Affairs and many others were on ground to represent the state government.  Professional bodies , Nigerian Medical Association , Religious groups, Schools, Pharmaceutical companies, representatives of multinational organizations and agencies.  Children from many of the surrounding schools in Orlu zone were on ground, and participated in the Children activities and dances.  Thanks to Tummy Tummy kitchen which  provided complimentary food to all the children.  Gift items, toys , bicycles and books were also given to all the children. There was also a book presentation / launching  on “ Food , Safety and Hygiene “  which was published by the hospital.  The commissioner for health Imo state , Dr Prosper Ohayagha     in his reaction to the book , thanked the hospital for helping to address the many myriads of health problems from multifaceted directions. There were lots of dances and carnivals from many traditional dance groups, masquerades and festival groups. The staff of the hospital were adorned in their anniversary uniforms , and dancing with overflowing smiles and happiness.  The women group from Umuowa community also presented their cultural dances and were very excited and full of joy. In his closing remarks , , the chairman of the board of management, Pharm George Nwagha thanked all the staff, guests and participants for coming for the celebrations , and also expressed profound thankfulness to all our benefactors and sponsors of our hospital project.