It was praise galore yesterday for Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as he commissioned the Emeka Anyaoku Diagnostic and Dialysis Centre located at the Iyienu Mission Hospital in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The centre which is the pet project of Chief Anyaoku, who last year raised over N100 million towards establishing the centre at the hospital, his birthplace some 81 years ago.

While announcing that Anambra State Government had invested over half a billion naira in the revitalisation of the reference hospital, Gov. Obi also announced an additional donation of N100 million to equip the hospital and two buses for its school of nursing.

According to Obi, “Iyienu was an example of what can happen, when government, missions and private individuals work in concert for the common good.”

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Anyaoku commended Gov. Obi for his unparalleled vision, tenacity and commitment to service delivery and good governance adding that a well-equipped and well-managed hospital like Iyienu would go a long way in cutting down the costs of medical tourism that was milking about N250 billion from Nigerians annually.

Speaking at the occasion, Bishop Owen Nwokolo said: “Those who criticised his support for church-run institutions especially hospitals, were wrong, since no one could be certain who would be the next patient to benefit from the life saving services of the hospital.”

Bishop Owen Okeke, on his part, thanked the governor for assisting to turn around the state of the hospital and said that he has left an indelible foot print on the sands of time.

Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, Secretary to the State Government, who accompanied Gov. Obi to the occasion, said that Anambra State Government was yet to have any cause to worry about its direct funding of church-run health and educational institutions.

He noted that the support for Iyienu represents the classical case of best practices and evidence-based positive return on investment.

•Photo shows Obi, with Anyaoku on his immediate left, cutting the tape to commission the Anyaoku Diagnostic Centre.