Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has flagged off the construction of a world-class 100-bed Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre at Umunnato in Bende Local Government Area.
The project, sited at the abandoned Umunnato General Hospital when completed would include theatres, accident and emergency units, general outpatient departments, maternity wards, dental units, radiology departments and a 100-bed ward.
Speaking on Thursday, during the groundbreaking ceremony which forms part of activities marking his third anniversary in office, Governor Otti directed the contractor to complete the project within one year.
The governor assured residents that the hospital would be delivered within record time, in line with his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure across the state.
He added that every project initiated by his administration must be completed within record time.
The governor disclosed that the decision to demolish and rebuild the decades-old facility became necessary after experts advised that rehabilitating the dilapidated structures would not deliver the desired standard.
“Anywhere we flag off a project, it means it will be commissioned, and it will be commissioned in record time.
“When we came to have a look at this place, it was a general hospital. We toyed with the idea of revamping it. But we found that there was no use.
“Because those who understand construction sometimes are better off pulling down a dilapidated structure like we did at the Government House in Umuahia. And we are rebuilding both the governor’s office and the governor’s residence.
“We found that it was cheaper to do that than to try and fix something that you probably wouldn’t even get exactly what you require”, Governor Otti stated.
The governor expressed optimism that the hospital would be ready for commissioning during activities marking his administration’s fourth anniversary.
“So in the next one year, as we will be celebrating our fourth anniversary and preparing for the next inauguration, we should be commissioning this project”, he said.
To ensure strict compliance with specifications and delivery timelines, the governor constituted a four-man supervisory team comprising the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe; his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma; House of Representatives hopeful for Bende Federal Constituency, Dr Desmond Chima Anyaso; and the Deputy Mayor of Bende LGA, Lady Ifeoma Agu.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, described Governor Otti as “a purveyor of health” who has “charted the whole spectrum of development of Abia.
He said the establishment of the specialist hospital was 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 care.
“Your Excellency, when you took over, you made it a point of priority that every senatorial district or senatorial zone in Abia State must have a tertiary hospital to serve as the pinnacle referral centre for that senatorial zone.
“And that is to bring specialised care to the doorstep of the Abians so that nobody is left behind”, Prof Uche stated.
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.
According to him, the abandoned hospital, originally established in 1962, had deteriorated badly after decades of neglect.
“This hospital was initially established in 1962. At that time, it was serving the whole of Abia North. Unfortunately, for 40 years, it has been abandoned.
“Because when we came to reclaim this place, we discovered dead bodies littered in some parts of this place because this place was abandoned”, he said.
The commissioner disclosed that consultants working towards securing Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, regarded globally as one of the highest standards in hospital accreditation, had already commenced work on the project under the governor’s directive.
“Your Excellency, the people of Abia North want to thank you and the ministry wants to appreciate you. You have directed that this hospital should be a world-class tertiary hospital.
“This hospital will have the best facilities available anywhere in the world to take care of people”, he said.
He revealed that the facility would include theatres, accident and emergency units, general outpatient departments, maternity wards, dental units, radiology departments and a 100-bed ward.
Governor Otti also commissioned the completed Umuisi Primary Healthcare facility as well as the Okafia Primary Healthcare facility in Igbere, Bende LGA.
