Asata Patriots Association Donates Health Centre To Community

OLISEMEKA OBI

The Asata Patriots Association, a community based social group based in the Asata area of Enugu, has completed and handed over to the Enugu North Local Council the expanded Asata Maternity and Health Centre, where the association built additional block to accommodate the increasing demands on the centre. 

The renovated health facility was officially commissioned by the Enugu North Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Emeka Onunze, on Thursday, 29th April, 2021.

The Council boss commended the Asata Patriots Association, otherwise known as Asata Forum, for embarking on such a project which will go a long way in the quest for quality primary health care delivery in the area. 
The Council Chairman called on other such associations to emulate the Asata group because according to him, the Government alone cannot provide all the amenities for the people. 

On her part, the officer and Matron in charge of the Health Centre, Mrs. Margret Nneji, appreciated the members and leadership of Asata Forum for empowering them to give better services to patients and expecting mothers. Conducting visitors around the newly built block, Mrs. Nneji explained that the facility will serve as ward and rest bay while the adjoining room will be used as delivery room. 

According to her, “One of our major challenges is the issue of a recovery room for patients but with this hall, we are now equipped for an enhanced service delivery to the public”.

The Matron noted that the availability of the building has already started yielding dividends with the donation of a solar freezer to the Health Centre by UNICEF. 

“Before now, we wouldn’t have qualified for the donation because of lack of conducive, proper and optimum use”, she added. 

“With the right accommodation, we can now approach the authorities as well as good hearted groups and individual for donations of medical tools”, she concluded. 

The new facility was also prayed on and dedicated to the service of humanity and God by Rev Fr. Ambrose Ofordile. 

Speaking with our reporter, the Chairman of the Health Centre Project Committee, Bro Joe Omeke, noted that the project was a result of a long term planning and financial contributions from over 100 individuals because they wanted to give back to the Asata area where they were born and lived in for the better part of their lives growing up. 

“Today, most of us have left the area and even Enugu to different cities in the world but we are still emotionally attached to our place of birth” he said.  

Mr. Omeke appreciated all that contributed towards making the project possible within a record time. 
“More than a hundred people donated various sums of money and I want to single out a few of them who were remarkable”. 
He named the elder brother of Ex-Super Eagles star, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Emma Okocha, South African based ex-player and one of the leaders of the group, Paul Nwachukwu, as key contributors to the project. Others included Charles Ezeoke, Ebuka Ogbu, Kennedy Ajah Chukwu, and Pst Obi Onwuakpa. Not left out are Mrs. Edith Okafor, Lady Akudo Mouto and Hon Obieze.

He also praised the cooperation of other members of the Project Committee, Lady Lovette Ndu and Emeka Okereke, as well as the effort of the Project Chief Engineer, Chinedu Enemuo, for the delivery of the project with a record time.

The Asata Forum has Paul Nwachukwu, Engr. Tega Okonkwo and UGO Ibekwe as Forum administrators. The membership of the Association has a multi ethnic, social and religious background, which is the hallmark of the average Enugu township community. It comprises of people who were born or grew up within the Asata area of Enugu. 

Other projects already carried out by the association, popularly call Asata Forum, included the donation of branded text books and school desks to all the Primary schools in Asata in 2017 and organising a quiz and spelling bee competitions to all the Primary schools in Asata in 2018.

The Asata Patriots Association, which was formed in 2017 through genuine efforts, was initiated by Late Jerry Okafor, Mazi Aniche, Paul Nwachukwu and Mazi Obiora Okereke, and was celebrated with a Novelty match between the Nigerian based and foreign based members. The match was followed by the Asata Reunion 2017 Gala Nite.