Health
Abia promises improved healthcare as general hospital nears completion
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services to residents as the renovation and upgrade of the Obingwa General Hospital, Mgboko, nears completion.
Speaking during a pre-completion inspection of the facility on Thursday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, said the hospital is one of the general hospitals undergoing extensive renovation across the state and is among those nearing completion.
He added that the visit was aimed at assessing the level of work done and ensuring that the project aligns with the vision and directives of Governor Alex Otti.
“We came to look at the extent of completion of this facility and we are pleased to see that it is almost ready. Equipment installation has already commenced and some of the equipment have been delivered.
“We are here to ensure that the project is implemented as designed and in line with the aspirations and directives of His Excellency,” Uche said.
The commissioner disclosed that, upon completion and commissioning, the hospital would serve as a major referral centre for primary healthcare facilities within Obingwa and neighbouring communities, including parts of Aba.
He explained that the facility would handle complicated pregnancies, surgical cases, childhood illnesses and other medical conditions that cannot be managed at the primary healthcare level.
“This is not just a general hospital. It is a comprehensive healthcare facility equipped with a surgical theatre, eye clinic, dental clinic, standard laboratory, radiology and ultrasound units, delivery rooms, male and female wards, children’s wards, a nutrition clinic, an accident and emergency unit, ambulance services and amenity wards for patients seeking more personalised care,” he said.
Uche further noted that the facility also provides accommodation for healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, as well as water supply infrastructure and a reliable power system, as directed by the governor.
He emphasised that the project reflects the administration’s statewide healthcare transformation agenda.
“From Obingwa to Umuneochi, from Ukwa East to Arochukwu, from Ohafia to Ugwunagbo, from Bende to Isuikwuato, healthcare transformation is ongoing. It is a holistic and comprehensive approach to ensure that no community is left behind,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Odochi Azubuike, said the inspection was part of efforts to ensure that the project meets the highest standards before commissioning.
She noted that the hospital project commenced about a year ago and has made remarkable progress under the present administration.
“We are here to put the final touches to the project and critically assess every aspect of the facility because effective supervision is essential to the successful delivery of any project.
“I am proud to say that under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, Abia State has taken a giant leap in the healthcare sector,” Azubuike said.
She commended the governor’s unwavering commitment to healthcare development, stressing that residents would soon begin to enjoy the benefits of the administration’s investments in the sector.
She said, “All of us working with His Excellency are proud to be part of this transformational administration. Abians can see that the Governor is fulfilling his promise of providing accessible, quality and affordable healthcare services to the people.”
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