In a world where healthcare often hinges on financial capability, the OPM Free Specialist Hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, defy the odds.
Founded by His Royal Majesty King Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, Founder and General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) and Ihie 1 of Ikwuorie Ancient kingdom, this groundbreaking institution is the first of its kind, offering 24/7 surgical services entirely free of charge.
With a mission to combat Nigeria’s staggering maternal mortality rates, OPM is not just a hospital; it’s a lifeline for the underserved, redefining what it means to care for the vulnerable. As the nation grapples with healthcare challenges, OPM stands as a beacon of hope and innovation, demonstrating that compassionate care is possible, regardless of one’s economic status.
OPM free hospital was commissioned in Ohanku Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State more than 10 years ago, before the commissioning of the second OPM free specialist hospital in port Harcourt on 17th April 2019 to carter for the less privileged Nigerians especially the pregnant mothers. These hospitals run free ante natal services, from registration, drugs, scan, delivery and cesarean sessions are all free.
OPM free specialist hospitals have a blood bank In case of emergencies, this is why the OPM free specialist hospitals run steady diesel generators due to the irregular power supply from the electricity distribution company.
It is instructive to note that while others may operate a free hospital and still charge people for drugs, scan and others, in OPM free specialist hospitals everything is free.
King Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere has spent a whooping sum of money on the purchase of diesel alone apart from paying workers salaries and consultant specialist Doctors who are always on ground to attend to the health needs of the patients.
The free specialist Hospital which is located at plot 3 Akporo Rd, Omuahunwo Aluu, Port Harcourt has its rooms built in suites and is equipped with modern facilities to give pregnant women the best medical care. Some of the services offered are Antenatal services Blood bank Delivery services, Free CS, Drugs Etc.
Joint reports on maternal mortality by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that Nigeria has approximately 58,000 maternal deaths, accounting for 19 per cent globally.
This means that at least 800 women die in every 100,000 live births and to address the high maternal mortality rates, the former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in July 2017 inaugurated a 34- Members Taskforce to accelerate reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
The high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria as revealed by the reports of the world renowned agencies became a source of worry for King Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the Founder and General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM).
“I sat down and asked myself what can be done to reduce maternal mortality and to help these women who don’t have money to cater for their healthcare, that is why we decided to build this free specialist hospital,” he said.
As it stands, hope of a better healthcare seems to have come the way of the poor and less privileged in Nigeria, especially those in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Niger Delta Region, Imo State and Abia State with the construction and inauguration of a Free Specialist Hospital by the OPM.
The hospital which renders specialist services also offers antenatal care. This is a welcome development as hundreds of people die daily, especially pregnant women because of their inability to pay and access quality healthcare.
Establishing the free hospital didn’t come as a surprise. Activities of the hospital dated back to 2010 when the Founder of the church, King Apostle Chinyere introduced free antenatal care for the less privileged pregnant women in Ohanku Ndoki Abia State and Aluu town in Rivers State.
The gesture eventually resulted in the construction of the free hospital in Abia State and Port Harcourt to ensure the less privileged continued to have access to good healthcare.
The hospital which boasts of state-of-the-art equipment has ambulance services that can respond quickly to any distress call and uninterrupted electric supply.
According to Apostle Chinyere, prominent figures in the field of medicine are in charge of recruitment of Doctors and Nurses for the hospital in order to get the best personnel.
“We are in partnership with the UPTH, in case of any complicated issue that we can’t handle and then we move them there.
“All these things are done free; the people are not paying one Kobo for the services and we are working to establish a more free hospital across the country.
This is a good gesture that well meaning Nigerians should partner with. Institutions such as WHO, UNICEF, UNITED NATION, EUROPEAN UNION, UNDP and others should also partner and support OPM free specialist hospitals to prove free medical care across the 36 states in Nigeria.
Recall that over 4000 babies have been delivered in OPM free specialist hospitals without any record of death since inception of the free hospital.
King Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere in his magnanimity has also instructed the management of the free hospital to be feeding people who delivered and give them transport to go home with their babies after being discharged from the hospital facilities.
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