Rita Odafe
Gov Alex Otti
The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has given the green light for the upgrade and modernization of the Abia Specialist Hospital in Umuahia and Amachara General Hospital to transform them into top-notch medical facilities.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced during a press briefing after the Executive Council meeting that the objective of this initiative is to enhance healthcare quality for the people of Abia.
The upgrade aims to expand the range of high-quality medical services in specialized areas such as internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, surgical services, general brain and spine surgeries, among others.
The Governor has allocated funds for the project and mandated that the upgrades be completed within 13-15 weeks.
Approval has also been given for the enhancement of the Diagnostic center to provide a comprehensive range of diagnostic and surgical services.
Otti aims to position Abia as a hub for healthcare tourism in Nigeria by enhancing facilities at state hospitals to international standards.
Additionally, Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, highlighted that the comprehensive renovations of both hospitals are intended to elevate them to centers of excellence in various medical specialties, introducing cutting-edge equipment and services.
The State Government has also approved funding for recruiting top-tier specialists in various medical fields to ensure top-notch healthcare for the people of Abia.
“In the coming days and weeks, the improvements in services and facilities will be evident.”
In response to inquiries, the Commissioner clarified that upgrading the hospitals does not impede the proposed establishment of a medical village in the state but aims to offer advanced medical services to residents in the meantime.
