By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi, Monday, announced that the institution’s Medical Centre would be offering free dialysis to their bonafide students with kidney related problems.
Arinze-Umeobi disclosed this in an interview after commissioning over ten projects recently executed by her administration across three campuses.
The projects were renovation and launch of two modern dialysis machines in the dialysis and renal therapy unit and digital x-ray unit of the university medical centre, UNIZIK microfinance bank, digital security networks, buses for free transportation for staff and waste bins for the 17 Faculties including Admin block, in Awka permanent site.
Others were renovated and equipped students hostel at Agulu campus where students were equally provided with sanitary detergents, as well as kitchen and toilets, borehole, overhead tank for 6000 gallons and solar powered street lights Mbaukwu campus.
She explained that any of their staff wishing to access the dialysis in the centre would be charged a sum of N10,000 while outsiders would pay N12,500 only as against about N60,000 been charged by private hospitals or N15,000 approved by the federal government.
The Acting Vice Chancellor said that the newly refurbished digital x-ray unit would offer more accurate services at affordable rates to the university community, while the renovated and improved admin blocks, hostels and kitchens and others at Agulu and Mbaukwu would provide conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
According to her, the university had converted their newly refurbished buses for free transportation scheme for the staff to enable them argument their salaries and properly fend for themselves and families amidst the economic crunch, just as the students would no longer spend heavily on health.
Arinze-Umeobi, while noting that plans were on to establish a department of Unizik welfare, described the projects as remarkable, noting that they would be sustained through the microfinance bank, Unizik business ventures, among other mechanisms to be adopted soonest.
The Acting Vice Chancellor said she was compelled to tackle these to improve the lives of people in the university community having witnessed her beloved died of inefficient dialysis, as well as seen the horrible conditions of students hostels, including what the staff pass through to sustain themselves with meagre resources.
“They are not the only projects I executed by my administration. I have commissioned many of them but these ones were reserved towards the end of my tenure. I will monitor these projects even after my tenure as Acting Vice Chancellor.
” The SUG and NANS should help us in sensitising students on optimum use of the facilities meant for them. To the staff, I want you to know that your voices will always be heard when you do it properly. You know the right channels to follow.
“I’m not saying you should protest or murmur. Ask properly and your wishes will definitely be granted. Unizik is a blessed University. I pray you to allow the Unizik to remain bless. For those engaging in holiganism, I pray you to leave unizik immediately. Our security is now tight. We have already caught some persons. If you engage in theft or vandalise our property, you will face the wrath of law,” she stated.
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