IGBO-ENO, ENUGU STATE — The Enugu State Government, in strategic partnership with Rotary International, has flagged off a 15-day free medical outreach featuring complex surgical procedures at the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital, Igbo-Eno, marking a major boost to healthcare access and medical capacity development in the state.

The initiative, organised under the Rotary India–Nigeria Medical Mission, was officially declared open at a joint press briefing addressed by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, and the Rotary International Team Leader, Dr. Santhosh Sreedhar.

The flag-off coincided with the 4th SUMAS Matriculation Ceremony, where Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Health, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to building SUMAS into a world-class medical university and a hub for quality healthcare delivery.

Governor Mbah explained that the state is making massive investments in the institution to respond to the global shortage of medical manpower, while positioning Enugu as a centre for training highly skilled professionals capable of competing locally and internationally.

“We have taken a deliberate decision to populate Enugu State, Nigeria, and the world with the medical manpower required to improve healthcare delivery, while creating quality employment opportunities for our people at home and abroad,” the governor stated.

He noted that the early establishment of the SUMAS Teaching Hospital, backed by enabling legislation and the appointment of key management personnel, was critical to ensuring that medical students receive adequate clinical exposure and practical training.

According to him, the simultaneous hosting of intensive medical services and student matriculation reflects deliberate planning and the steady execution of the administration’s healthcare and education agenda.

Governor Mbah further disclosed that student enrolment at SUMAS has grown from about 500 to over 2,000 within a few years, assuring that graduates would find meaningful employment as the government continues the construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres and other health facilities across the state.

He expressed appreciation to Rotary International for the partnership and urged resident doctors and health professionals to leverage the mission for knowledge transfer and professional collaboration. He also called on residents, especially those in the Enugu North Senatorial Zone, to maximise the opportunity of free medical care.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of SUMAS, Prof. James Ogbonna, commended Governor Mbah for massive funding and institutional reforms that have accelerated the university’s growth and competitiveness.

He revealed that at least 15 additional academic programmes secured accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in the 2024/2025 academic session, attributing the achievement to sustained government investment in infrastructure and manpower.

“The SUMAS Teaching Hospital is nearing full take-off. The Outpatient Department has been completed; key management officers have been appointed; the 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital is fully equipped and ready for operation; while our 120-bed Medical Centre is already functional and undergoing upgrades,” Prof. Ogbonna said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, lauded the governor for providing the enabling environment and infrastructure for the university to thrive. He encouraged students to explore the Federal Government’s education loan scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while cautioning against cultism and indiscipline.

Earlier, Dr. Sreedhar disclosed that Rotary International deployed a 16-member team of specialist doctors from India to deliver surgical services, patient diagnosis, and advanced treatments throughout the outreach.

He explained that the mission would cover specialties such as general surgery, orthopaedics, ENT, dental care, plastic and reconstructive surgery, ophthalmology, and gynaecology, while also training local doctors on complex procedures and providing free treatment to indigent patients.

Medical equipment donated by the Rotary Foundation for the mission includes surgical operating microscopes, dental chairs, theatre tables, and other critical devices.

The initiative is expected to significantly improve access to quality healthcare, strengthen local medical capacity, and reinforce Enugu State’s vision of emerging as a leading medical education and healthcare destination in Nigeria.