The people of Abia North Senatorial District will soon begin to enjoy more robust healthvare as the Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has laid the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of a 100-bed Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre at Umunnato in Bende Local Government Area.
The landmark healthcare initiative, which according to the Governor, is expected to further reposition the state as a sure destination for quality medical services and advanced healthcare delivery, will be completed within one year.
Speaking during ceremony which is part of activities marking his third year anniversary, Governor Otti announced the Constitution of a four-man supervisory team comprising the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Mr Nnamdi Ibekwe, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, House of Representatives Hopeful, Dr Chima Anyaso and the Deputy Mayor of Bende LGA, Lady Ifeoma Agu.
The Governor while stating that it is an effort to ensure that the project complies with specifications and delivery timeline, assured Ndi-Umunnato Bende and the entire Abia North that the hospital would be delivered within record time, in line with his administration’s commitment to ensuring the completion and commissioning of every project initiated.
Governor Otti expressed confidence that the hospital would be ready for commissioning during activities marking his administration’s fourth anniversary.
He explained that the decision to demolish and rebuild the age long facility became necessary after he was advised by experts that rehabilitating the dilapidated structures would not deliver the desired result.h
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche said that the 100-bed ward project when completed would include theatres, accident and emergency units, general outpatient departments, maternity wards, dental units, radiology departments.
According to him, the foundation laying ceremony for the specialist hospital is in fulfilment of the governor’s promise that each senatorial zone in the state would have a tertiary healthcare facility serving as a referral centre for specialised medical cases.
The Commissioner noted that while the Abia State University Teaching Hospital would serve Abia South Senatorial District, the Amachara Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre would cater for Abia Central, while the Umunnato facility would serve Abia North.
noting that the abandoned Umunnato general hospital, established in 1962, had deteriorated badly after decades of neglect.
The commissioner disclosed that consultants working towards securing Joint Commission International Certification, regarded globally as one of the highest standards in hospital accreditation, had already commenced work on the project under the directives of the governor.
The Governor also commissioned the completed Umuisi Primary Healthcare facility as well as the Okafia Primary Healthcare facility all in Igbere, Bende LGA.
