Uzodinma seeks global support for Imo medical city

…partners ANPA on knowledge transfer to state’s medical workers

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has expressed his Administration’s willingness to collaborate with international organisations to establish a world class medical city and transform the State into a medical hub.

This is as the governor announced plans to partner the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), to train the personnel of the Ministry of Health and related agencies on transfer of contemporary medical knowledge and skill for the purpose of domesticating same and making healthcare delivery easily accessable by the people.

Governor Uzodinma made this known last week Sunday at the inauguration of the ANPA medical mission to Imo State held at the Banquet Hall of Government House Owerri.

He said that the initiative forms part of a broader 25-year development agenda, aimed at reducing medical tourism and attracting global investment.

“We want to reverse the trend where our people travel abroad for treatment. Instead, we aim to make Imo a destination for medical solutions,” he stated.

Governor Uzodinma commended the visiting medical team for their humanitarian efforts, urging a shift from short-term outreach to long-term partnership. “Medical missions are commendable, but sustainable healthcare requires stronger collaboration,” he said.

He stressed the importance of training, as a key component of the mission, noting that equipping local health workers and residents with emergency response knowledge and skills could significantly reduce preventable deaths.

The governor also highlighted reforms in the health sector, including the establishment of a Central Drug Distribution System, to eliminate fake drugs and improve standards of care and urged the visiting professionals to partner with the state in building a resilient healthcare system.

Meanwhile, Cliff Eke, President of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), disclosed that the group’s ongoing medical outreach in Imo State is aimed at building sustainable healthcare system rather than offering short-term interventions.

Eke described the programme as part of the broader Diaspora Health Initiative (DHI), conceived to harness the expertise of Nigerian health professionals abroad.

He noted that over 120 volunteer healthcare professionals, including surgeons, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and specialists across multiple disciplines, had travelled from the United States and the United Kingdom to participate in the exercise.

“ANPA (2026) Week is more than a medical mission. It focuses on knowledge exchange, skills transfer and capacity building, alongside free medical and surgical services,” he said.

Eke explained that the initiative was inspired by the need to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, expressing hope that such missions, would eventually become unnecessary.

“Our greatest hope is that one day medical missions will be rare, because the system has become self-sustaining,” he added.

He disclosed that activities for the week include complex surgeries, health screenings, and training programmes such as basic life support and newborn care.

According to him, the outreach, valued at over $500,000, underscores the diaspora’s commitment to supporting healthcare delivery in Nigeria, through collaboration with local institutions and government agencies.