Health
How We’ve Managed Anioma Hospital Without Friction for 42 Years—Idiaghe Brothers
By Jerome-Mario Utomi
The ancient city of Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria, houses many hospitals. While some are government-owned such as the General Hospital and Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC), others were established and operated by faith-based organizations like churches. The rest, which of course are higher in number, were midwifed by private individuals.
Among these privately owned hospitals is Anioma Hospital. The subtle meaning of Anioma in the Igbo language is good land.
Aside from the quality of service delivery, which is the hallmark of the hospital in the past 42 years, Anioma Hospital has for other obvious reasons, scored other firsts.
The hospital is the first indigenous private hospital in the ancient city of Agbor and arguably among the league’s most popular, well-known and highly respected by all adult indigenes of the Ika nation and non-indigenes resident in the part of the state.
It was established about 42 years ago by the Ute-okpu-born Medical Doctor, Dr Idiaghe Samuel Ndubuchi Aquila, in the Ika North East Local government area of Delta State.
Aquila who was born in December 1943, trained as a medical doctor at Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1976.
What is, however, not known to the public, which of course is the most interesting feat, is that the hospital has been managed successfully in the past 42 years of its existential journey by two brothers with neither rancour nor friction.
While Dr Idiaghe Samuel Ndubuchi Aquila is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), his younger brother, Mr Godwin Uwaifo Idiaghe, who is now 74 years old, functions as the hospital administrator.
Narrating to the media how Anioma Hospital came into being, Dr Idiaghe stated that when he graduated from Medical School in 1976 and did his mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he came back home and enrolled on the then Hospital Management Board where he was employed and posted to Patani as a medical officer.
At this duty post, he was made to cover Patani and Bomadi General Hospitals and used a speedboat as his ambulance. From there, he was posted to General House, Ubiaja and then to Agbor.
“You know that was during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time when it was mandatory to serve for five years before you could work/establish your own. That said, I would have continued to serve the then Bendel State Government if not for the fact that there was a malicious transfer from Agbor back to Ugu-aja and because of that malicious transfer, I had to resign,” he said.
On how the Anioma Hospital was established, he narrated that, “Anioma Hospital was founded in November 1980. As I said earlier, there was an urge to serve my people and that was why I declined to be retained at Akure after my youth service. I had to come home to serve my people and in serving my people, I chose to establish my hospital in Agbor. It was my patriotism that led me to choose the name Anioma Hospital.
“When I eventually pulled out from serving the government in 1980, because of my record in service in General Hospital Agbor, I pulled out with a lot of crowds. My clinic was booming. Since I couldn’t handle it alone, I decided to involve my younger brother, who was then working at Leventis Lagos. I immediately invited him to be the administrator. I said he should come and help me administer and since then, we have been getting on for the past 42 years.”
Asked what set the stage for peaceful co-existence, he responded, “For two people to get along, there must be a lot of great understanding and tolerance, and the ability to study ourselves. The leader must be accommodating. Whatever you have in this world, you’re not carrying it back to your grave.”
He further attributed their unity to the way they were brought up by their late parents.
“There’s a reward for hard work, there’s a reward for discipline. I believe that all human beings are equal. Everybody cannot be a professor, everybody cannot be an engineer, and everybody cannot be a doctor. Whatever you are, make the best use of that position to the good of mankind and to the good of people around you because a tree can never make a forest,” he said.
On their retirement plan, he said, “As long as God continues to bless me with good health, I will continue to soldier on. A good soldier dies with his boot. Most of my colleagues and my classmates are Professors all over the country and most of them have retired. Some of them also own their private clinics, some are no longer working. I happen to be the WhatsApp administrator of my class group. So, I’m always in touch with them.
“I have always been here in Agbor right from the time I established the hospital apart from my occasional travels outside the country to the US and other parts of the world for vacations.”
Talking about his brother, he stressed that as long as he’s comfortable with me, as long as he has good health, and as long as the two of them are available and can work together in peace, there may be no need for him to contemplate retiring.
Asked to advise upcoming youths on how to handle collaboration in business, he said, “Like I said earlier, birds of the same feather flock together, and work together. No one should leave the other behind.
“There was a rule I made that no staff should intervene in our relationship and we kept to it rigidly. You should know that for you to be a good leader, you must have good followers. The secret of our success is tolerance. The secret is understanding, never carry the things of the world on your head.”
“I have three medical doctors. My first daughter is a chartered accountant and has her PhD in view. My second daughter is a medical doctor, my son is a medical doctor and also a software engineer. He registered for software engineering on his own. My second son is also a medical doctor in the United Kingdom.
“My first son is in and out of health practice. He cannot be tied down to a particular location but anytime I call on him, he’ll always come. Also, for my brother, all his children are graduates and doing well in their fields of endeavours but none of them is a medical doctor,” he concluded.
Corroborating his elder brother, Mr Godwin Uwaifo Idiaghe said he has maintained a frictionless relationship with his sibling because of the understanding between them.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed airlines, airport operators and other aviation stakeholders to intensify public health surveillance measures following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
In a circular dated May 18, 2026, the NCAA said the directive became necessary due to growing concerns over the spread of the disease and the critical role of the aviation sector in preventing cross-border transmission.
The authority noted that although no confirmed case linked to the outbreak has been recorded in Nigeria, it is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Port Health Services and international health organisations to closely monitor the situation.
According to the NCAA, health authorities in the DRC recently identified a cluster of severe illnesses among healthcare workers in the Bunia Health Zone in the northeastern part of the country.
Recall that Nigeria also said it would tighten surveillance after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a public health emergency after Ebola killed over 80 people in Congo and Uganda.
Laboratory investigations later confirmed the presence of the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of the Ebola virus family known to cause severe viral haemorrhagic disease in humans.
The authority stated that there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain, while treatment remains largely supportive and symptom-based.
The NCAA listed symptoms associated with Ebola Virus Disease to include sudden fever, severe fatigue, persistent headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding manifestations such as nosebleeds or vomiting blood.
It stressed that early detection and immediate reporting remain critical to preventing the international spread of the disease.
As part of preventive measures, the authority said disease surveillance systems at airports have been strengthened, while contact tracing, case reporting mechanisms and border health screening procedures are also being reinforced.
The NCAA further directed pilots to notify Air Traffic Control of any suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft, in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
It also instructed flight crew members to complete and submit Aircraft General Declaration forms for all suspected cases and mandated airlines to ensure passenger locator forms are completed and handed over to Port Health Services upon arrival.
The authority added that airlines must ensure aircraft are properly equipped with first aid kits, universal precaution kits and emergency medical kits.
It also urged operators to reinforce crew training on the identification and management of communicable diseases and ensure strict adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines.
The NCAA called on all aviation stakeholders to remain vigilant and comply fully with established public health protocols to safeguard passengers, crew members and the general public from potential health threats.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that although the country currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), it is, nevertheless, actively strengthening surveillance.
This comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, after 80 deaths were attributed to the disease.
The WHO, however, stopped short of declaring a pandemic, saying it did not meet the necessary criteria. The United Nations agency advised countries against closing borders or restricting trade.
Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, and are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash, and bleeding.
In a statement by its Director General, Mr Jide Idris, on Sunday, the NCDC noted that it is also ramping up laboratory readiness, infection prevention, and public awareness efforts across the country.
He said the centre was closely monitoring the situation due to increasing regional movement across African countries and was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to strengthen preparedness within Nigeria’s public health system.
“NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” he stated.
The NCDC boss described Ebola virus disease as a severe viral illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals.
He noted that the disease has an incubation period ranging from two to 21 days, while symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
Recall that Nigeria gained international recognition for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola, especially in patients presenting symptoms compatible with the disease alongside relevant travel or exposure history.
Idris stressed the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including early identification and isolation of suspected cases, proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and prompt reporting through established channels.
“NCDC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” he added.
NCDC advised Nigerians to remain calm, maintain good hand hygiene, avoid misinformation, and report unusual illnesses promptly.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine has been donated to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, by the corporate social responsibility arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, NNPC Foundation.
In a statement on Sunday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Andy Odeh, the state-owned oil organisation said the medical item was given to the healthcare institution as part of its commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening medical infrastructure across Nigeria.
The MRI system is expected to significantly improve access to advanced diagnostic imaging services for millions of Nigerians across the South-East (Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States) as well as neighbouring Delta State.
The foundation also provided critical supporting infrastructure, including RF shielding systems, chillers, backup UPS systems, electrical installations, specialised imaging accessories, ventilation systems, CCTV and oxygen monitoring systems, intercom communication facilities, and other patient comfort technologies designed to ensure optimal operation of the facility.
Before now, patients requiring advanced MRI diagnostic services often faced prolonged waiting periods, exorbitant costs, and the burden of travelling long distances in search of functional imaging centres.
But it is believed that the intervention of the NNPC Foundation would provide succour to patients.
At the presentation of the items to the institution over the weekend, the chief executive of the NNPC, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, described the intervention as a strategic investment in healthcare access, diagnostic precision, and improved patient outcomes, noting that the facility aligns with the company’s commitment to building sustainable systems and impactful national institutions.
“The installation of the MRI in NAUTH exemplifies our commitment, as our intent is to build enduring institutions, sustainable systems and legacies. This intervention aligns with our conviction that access to quality healthcare underpins human dignity, longevity and economic productivity,” Mr Ojulari stated.
He described the company’s social investments as viable currencies that strengthen the relationship between the Company’s core mandate of providing and managing energy for Nigerians and meeting stakeholders’ expectations.
In his remarks, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Charles Soludo, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the intervention would enhance safe and precise diagnosis and treatment for patients across the South-East region.
He also commended NNPC Foundation for donating the MRI facility to the state, noting that the intervention would significantly improve access to quality healthcare services for the people.
The Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof Joseph Ugboaja, thanked the donor for the items, saying NNPC Foundation has demonstrated that corporate social responsibility is not just a policy statement but a lifeline for institutions like ours.
“For too long, patients in our catchment area have had to travel long distances to access this level of diagnostic precision, often at prohibitive costs. With this installation, we will eliminate that burden,” he enthused.
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