By Agwu Nwogo
Prof. Chihurumnanya Alo has officially taken over as the second substantive Chief Medical Director of David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
He succeeds Prof. Uzoma Agwu whose four year run elapsed on June 30, 2026.
Addressing the DUFUTH Senior Management shortly after the handover ceremony, Prof. Alo outlined unity, staff welfare, accreditation for undergraduate medical training, and improved clinical service delivery as immediate priorities.
He called for an emergency response mode in the next eight weeks to align resources and ideas ahead of the proposed assessment visit by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria towards securing accreditation for training of undergraduate medical students.
“I want to quickly remind us that even before I settle down, one major thing we have to pursue is the accreditation of undergraduates medical students training. By August, the MDCN will be coming for that accreditation and it is going to be a rigorous one but I know that with the calibre of persons in the management and the things we have on ground, if we put them in the right places, we will be able to achieve that. So, it is as if the target has already been set before us in the couple of say, 8 weeks to be ready for that accreditation. Maybe that is the first achievement this new team will score,” the CMD added.
While acknowledging the contributions of his predecessor, he also pledged to drive attitudinal shift towards patient care by stabilizing clinical services and ensuring that essential clinical supplies are stocked in abundance, and added, “there is no point establishing any hospital if that hospital does not provide effective clinical treatment to citizens. So we are going to take that as one of the priority areas. It is not as straightforward as it sounds because there are lots of attachments and paraphernalia to it, but we are going to find a way to ensure that these commodities are back in stock and that we have it in abundance to serve our people.”
He also voiced his administration’s plans to address staff concerns including promotions and placements, trainings, and remuneration.
Addressing divisions and grievances against the past administration, he called on all staff to close ranks and work as a team, saying: “we have heard different kinds of stories, some people feel aggrieved and feel like they have not been treated well. I want to assure you that if we work as a team, we will always win but when we have divisions among us, then it becomes difficult to move the hospital forward. So, I want to implore all of us, if you already had a sword drawn, put it back in the sheathe and then let’s look for a common ground to agree on things and then move forward.”
“I may not have the kind of strength that your former CMD has, okay, but then I like working in a peaceful atmosphere. With this new opportunity, let’s pay attention to what will move DUFUTH forward instead of creating divisions that will not lead us anywhere,” he concluded.
He described DUFUTH’s greatest asset as its strong foundation, modern equipment, and skilled personnel put in place by the founder Engr David Umahi, together with the past leadership, confident that with unity of purpose, the hospital can finally position itself as a major destination for medical tourism, serving both the host community and patients from across the country.
The new CMD also promised interface and interactions with various departments to identify areas in need of attention and improvements.
Highpoints were transmission of handover notes and other symbols of authority by the former Acting CMD, Dr. Darlington-Peter Ugoji on behalf of Prof. Uzoma Agwu, to the new CMD, presentation of gift to the immediate past CMD by the Management, facility tour of the main hospital complex and its annexes as well as the staff quarters, and a grand reception for the new CMD by the Uburu community, at the Osborne La Palm hotel.
