07/05/2026
Health Ministry taskforce /Inspection Team Visits Neuropsychiatric Hospital Nawfia Over Staff Attendance and Facility Conditions
By Stanley Nwako
As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure that state health workers are present and actively performing their duties across various health institutions, the Anambra State Ministry of Health Inspection Team, led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, today conducted an unscheduled inspection visit to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nawfia.
Upon the team’s arrival at approximately 9:00 a.m., it was observed that the Chief Medical Director and the Matron overseeing the hospital were absent from their duty posts, raising concerns about leadership presence and administrative accountability within the facility.
During the inspection, the team visited several critical departments of the hospital, including the Administrative Department, where only a few staff members were found at their duty stations. The Psychology Unit, along with the office of the Deputy Director of Nursing, was found locked, with no officials present at the time of inspection.
Further rounds took the team through the Pharmacy Department, General Outpatient Department (GOPD), Male and Female Wards, as well as the Kitchen Department, to assess both staff attendance and the overall condition of service delivery.
Addressing hospital management and staff during the visit, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo expressed serious dissatisfaction over the apparent absenteeism among workers, stressing that punctuality, dedication, and commitment to duty are non-negotiable in the healthcare sector.
She strongly condemned the poor state of the male and female wards, describing their condition as unacceptable for a healthcare facility entrusted with the care and rehabilitation of vulnerable patients. According to her, healthcare institutions must maintain high standards of cleanliness, orderliness, and professionalism at all times.
Dr. Uchebo further emphasized the importance of proper patient care routines, instructing that patients should be assisted to wake up early each morning for bathing and personal hygiene, rather than being seen bathing late into the morning. She noted that while ongoing bathroom renovations may present temporary challenges, hospital management must implement effective alternatives to preserve patient dignity and sanitation.
The Permanent Secretary also used the opportunity to reiterate that healthcare workers must adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession, which include compassion, discipline, punctuality, and responsibility. She warned that absenteeism, negligence, and poor facility management undermine the government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery and will not be tolerated.
Despite the shortcomings observed, Dr. Uchebo commended the hospital’s generally clean environment and praised the caregivers for their organized appearance and professional dressing, noting that such standards should be reflected across all operational areas of the institution.
The inspection team also visited Nnobi General Hospital, where the environment was observed to be clean, orderly, and well maintained. Doctors and nurses were found at their respective duty posts, diligently attending to patients.
During the visit, the Permanent Secretary took the opportunity to engage with pregnant women present for antenatal care, educating them on the importance of healthy living practices and proper care for both their unborn babies and newborns emphasizing on the importance of the first 1000 days to ensure their overall well-being.
The inspection team was accompanied by the Director of Medical Services/ASHEFAMU Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, as the Ministry continues its statewide monitoring exercise aimed at strengthening accountability, improving healthcare standards, and ensuring efficient service delivery in all government-owned health facilities.
