ABIA STATE GOVT APPROVES UPGRADE OF TWO HOSPITALS, REACTIVATION OF WATER FACILITIES

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government has reaffirmed its resolve to provide basic healthcare for the people of the state.

Briefing journalists at the government House Umuahia after this week’s Executive Council presided over by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu said the council approved the comprehensive upgrade of the Amachara General Hospital and Abia Specialist Hospital Umuahia.

Also approved by the council was the Abia Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Accelerated Programme.

The aim is to renovate water facilities, ensure water treatment to guarantee provision of adequate drinking water in the state.

According to the Commissioner, the upgrade of the health facilities is to offer expanded scope of high quality medical services in the areas of internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, general surgeries both brain and spine surgeries among others.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Uche, said the complete overhaul and comprehensive upgrade of the hospitals would not only improve the existing facilities but also introduce new, state-of-the-art equipment and health service.

It would further ensure the recruitment of high-caliber specialists across various medical fields for people of the state to receive the better quality healthcare services.

For his part, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, explained that ten solar powered facilities would be installed across the three senatorial zones of the state and carryout maintenance on the existing boreholes.

Mr. Monday also announced plans to improve sanitation and hygiene across the state.

He said the state “aims to achieve zero open defecation” and would construct modern, solar-powered public sanitation facilities, including washrooms and toilets, across the three senatorial zones.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU