Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved the comprehensive upgrade and retrofitting of the Amachara General Hospital and Abia Specialist Hospital, all in Umuahia.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this Monday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor.
According to the Commissioner, the essence of the upgrade is to enable healthcare facilities to offer an expanded scope of high-quality medicine in certain special areas, including internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, surgical services, and general brain and spine surgeries, among others.
He said the intended upgrade will come on stream within the next 12 to 15 weeks, adding that both facilities and structures in the two health institutions would be affected.
“In furtherance of the ongoing reforms in the health sector of the state, His Excellency Dr Alex Otti has granted approval for the upgrade and retrofitting of the Amachara General Hospital to offer the highest level of specialist hospital and health care services.
“Approval has also been granted for the upgrade of the diagnostic centre to offer all cadres of diagnostic and surgery services,” he noted.
The Commissioner also revealed that the Executive Council also approved the Abia Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Accelerated Programme, which includes the upgrade of water facilities and water treatment.
He added that the state government would install 10 solar-powered sanitation facilities across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Prince Kanu revealed that the governor would flag off the 41.4-kilometre Arochukwu-Ohafia Federal Road on Wednesday, maintaining that the aim is to provide comfort and convenience to Abians on all the roads in the state. This is in fulfilment of one of his campaign promises to the people of the area.
He equally said that Abia clocks 33 on Tuesday, 27th 2024, informing that the government is not planning any ceremony to that effect but called on Abians to retrospect the growth of the state so far.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the complete overhaul of the Abia Specialist Hospital and Amachara General Hospital is designed to elevate the health institutions to centres of excellence in various medical specialities.
Prof Uche noted that the comprehensive upgrade of the hospitals will not only improve the existing facilities but will also introduce new, state-of-the-art equipment and services.
He revealed that the state government has approved funds for the recruitment of high-calibre specialists across various medical fields to ensure that Abia people receive the best in terms of quality healthcare services.
“He (the governor) had also approved funds for hiring high-calibre specialists in various fields of medicine.
“In the succeeding days and weeks, some of this retrofitting and upgrading of services will become manifest.” Prof. Uche stated
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, disclosed that the state has also embarked on Abia Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Accelerated Programme initiatives to address water supply issues, which are critical to public health.
According to him, the initiative, conceived as a coordinated, three-phase programme, will see existing boreholes retrofitted with solar-powered systems, particularly in rural areas, to ensure consistent water supply without reliance on the power grid.
“When we took office, we assessed all the water facilities in the state and found that none of the 58 core water facilities was producing even a litre of water.
“What we intend to do is, using the existing boreholes, change them to solar power, especially in our rural areas so that people can have access to water without the issue of power being a constraint, and we also want to integrate water treatment based on the water analysis,” he said.
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