Building A Healthier Future: Governor Sule Launches Construction of Specialist Hospital in Akwanga

 

Timescope News 

"Government believes that a healthy population is essential to economic growth, productivity and the overall wellbeing of society. It is therefore the responsibility of government to ensure that citizens have access to quality, affordable, specialised healthcare services."

These were the words of Nasarawa State Governor, His Excellency Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Phase One construction, expansion and conversion of General Hospital Akwanga to a Specialist Hospital.

The Governor explained that the upgrade and expansion work would include a Trauma Centre and a five-storey building equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities, treatment and referral services. He noted that the project would minimise the need for patients to travel long distances in search of specialised medical care for dreaded ailments.

"This upgrade, when completed, will significantly improve the availability of advanced diagnostic, treatment and referral services. It will reduce the burden on tertiary facilities, minimise the need for patients to travel long distances for specialised care, and enhance the capacity of our healthcare workforce," Governor Sule stated.

"The facilities will include modern clinical departments, improved in-patient and out-patient facilities, upgraded laboratories, imaging services, a trauma centre, and other modern essential infrastructure required for specialist healthcare delivery."

The Governor stressed that upon completion, the Specialist Hospital would become a more efficient, patient-centred environment that supports quality care. He acknowledged that infrastructure alone cannot provide quality healthcare, and assured that his administration remains committed to strengthening the workforce, improving medical equipment, enhancing the drug supply chain, and ensuring effective management.

Governor Sule noted that the initiative aligns with his administration's commitment to strengthening healthcare systems across primary, secondary and tertiary referral care, ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible and affordable to the people of the state and beyond.

"This informed our decision to set aside six billion naira (N6bn) for Phase One of these projects," the Governor assured.

He appreciated the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill for the conversion of Akwanga General Hospital to Nasarawa State Specialist Hospital Akwanga, and for all other executive bills sent to them.

The Governor also applauded the dedication and commitment of the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, and all health workers in the state for consistently demonstrating high levels of proficiency in the discharge of their functions. He called on the contractor to deliver quality work according to project specifications within the agreed timeline.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Gaza Gwamna appreciated the Governor for the rare courage demonstrated in strengthening the healthcare system in the state. He noted that Governor Sule would go down in history as the first executive governor to build a tertiary health institution in Nasarawa State, as the former Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital was built by a military administrator.

Dr. Gwamna thanked the Governor for improving the state's healthcare workforce, with over six thousand personnel currently manning various facilities across the state. Out of that number, his administration has employed over 2,000 healthcare workers.

"You also gave approval for us to employ forty (40) nurses and over twenty-five (25) doctors to pioneer service delivery in this place, and that is just the beginning. You have ensured that our health insurance is working," Dr. Gwamna noted.

Providing an overview of the project, Architect Salihu Hussaini Egyegbola explained that it has been segmented into three units.

"The first is to ensure that the existing facilities are functioning and where we need to add, we add. Then, there are other facilities that a tertiary facility is supposed to have but are not there—we are going to put them together. And of course, the big elephant in the room, as the Commissioner said, is that this is going to be a specialist hospital—but this one is going to be more special by the time we finish," Egyegbola explained.

He assured the people of the state that upon completion, there would be no Specialist Hospital like this one in the entire North Central Zone.

"I am aware that a lot of accolades have been received for the Secretariat project. I assure you that by the time this is finished, this will surpass the Secretariat in terms of beauty. The tallest building here will be a five-storey structure," he assured.

Architect Egyegbola stressed that the Trauma Centre would serve as a training and research centre where medical fellows would regularly come to benefit the state and, in particular, the people of Akwanga.

In his goodwill message, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada noted that Governor Abdullahi Sule has demonstrated leadership and service delivery at the highest level in the state, as he continues to entrench fairness and inclusiveness across senatorial districts in the distribution of critical infrastructural projects.

"Lafia hosts a teaching hospital today, Keffi hosts a Federal Medical Centre, and it is only fair and proper for Akwanga to have a tertiary health institution—this connotes fair and just leadership," he stated.

He described the Governor's impact in the education and healthcare subsectors as phenomenal, noting that these two are the major and vital indicators of a formidable, committed and progressive leadership and society.

His Royal Highness, the Chun Mada, in his goodwill message, appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for advancing the project started by his predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who built an ultra-modern general hospital in Akwanga which is now being expanded.

Concerning the much-talked-about Trauma Centre, the royal father impressed upon the people of the state to take good care of their health in order not to become beneficiaries of the Trauma Centre's services unless absolutely necessary.

The Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Dr. Esala E. Abene, appreciated the Governor for making the project a reality.

"We have been looking forward to this event that will mark the expansion and building of the state's own specialist hospital—one that will be unique in North Central Nigeria. We will ensure this becomes a legacy project of His Excellency the Governor, and indeed a legacy for all of us in Nasarawa State," Dr. Abene said.

The CMD also expressed gratitude to various stakeholders, including the royal fathers and elders in the medical profession who are royal fathers, such as Dr. Kabiru, Dr. Angbazo, and Dr. Akpeshi, who hold this project dear.

He appealed to the people of the state to put their hands on deck in ensuring the success of the project, noting that the Governor is committed to this DASH project. According to him, the hospital is strategic as it will serve 53 different Primary Healthcare Centres. He also appealed to the people that hospital operations would temporarily shift to the other side of the compound to continue catering to the medical needs of the community during construction.

Honourable Larry Ven-Bawa and the Executive Chairman of Akwanga Local Government Area, Hon. Safiyanu Isa Andaha, both lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule's efforts and commitment to transforming the state