NMA Delegation Visits DASH CMD, Commends Hospital Expansion Plan and Trauma Center Initiative

Timescope News 

A delegation from the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has paid a courtesy visit to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Akwanga.

The visit aimed to congratulate the new Chief Medical Director (CMD) on his appointment and to strengthen the working relationship between the association and the hospital’s management.

The team commended the management and staff for their dedication in running the newly established tertiary facility. During the meeting, they discussed strategies for improving healthcare delivery and enhancing the welfare of medical practitioners in the state.

Receiving the delegation in his office, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Esala A. Abene, disclosed that upon completion of its ongoing construction and expansion, the specialist hospital would become one of its kind in the region. He revealed that the upgraded facility will house a trauma center, which will serve a wide range of emergency cases.

Dr. Abene stated that arrangements are underway for a temporary relocation of services to allow for the full commencement of construction work. He assured that the hospital would not shut down its operations during this period, emphasizing that the temporary move is necessary due to Akwanga’s strategic importance in healthcare delivery. He also reaffirmed management’s commitment to the welfare of personnel to ensure better productivity.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the NMA, Nasarawa State Chapter, Dr. Isa Ohyoma, formally welcomed Dr. Abene into the association, noting that by the NMA constitution, the CMD of DASH is automatically a member. He described the NMA as both a welfare organization and a pressure group dedicated to the interests of its members.

Dr. Ohyoma revealed that the association has about 600 doctors in Nasarawa State and operates a constitution that prioritizes the welfare of its members. He commended the state government for converting the General Hospital Akwanga into a specialist hospital, noting that the zone previously lacked a tertiary healthcare center. With the establishment of the specialist hospital, he said, there are high expectations from the community.

He also praised the governor for the proposed trauma center at the hospital, stressing that apart from Jos and the FCT, there is no such facility in the surrounding north central region. He urged the CMD to work towards the actualization of the center, citing Akwanga’s strategic location.

Dr. Ohyoma expressed concern over the state’s manpower challenges, noting that with only about 600 doctors serving an estimated population of 2.8 million, the doctor-to-patient ratio stands at approximately 1:7,000—far from the UN-recommended ratio of 1:1,000. He therefore appealed to the hospital management to employ more doctors to bridge the gap.