Medical Services Resume at Relocated Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Akwanga

Timescope News 

Medical services have resumed at a new location following the temporary relocation of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital from its original site on Lafia Road, Akwanga, to the former General Hospital along Keffi Road. The move paves the way for a major expansion project that will transform the existing structure into a fully-fledged specialist hospital.

Consultants from various specialized fields are set to begin visits to the temporary facility this April, including gastroenterologists, paediatricians, general surgeons, family physicians, ENT surgeons, dental surgeons, ophthalmologists, anaesthesiologists, gynaecologists, radiologists, urologists, and endocrinologists.

The old General Hospital in Akwanga, previously in a serious state of disrepair, has now been transformed through extensive renovation into a modern facility equipped to meet patients’ needs.

The relocation was necessary to clear the original Model Hospital site for a major construction project. The initiative involves expanding and upgrading the facility to a specialist hospital as disclosed by the state governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule

A visit to the temporary site at the old Keffi road General Hospital showed that critical services including emergency response, maternity health, outpatient services, X-ray, laboratory services, ENT clinic, dental care, surgery, radiology and others are already operational.

The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Esala E. Abene, has been working tirelessly to ensure optimal functionality, conducting routine visits to all departments to guarantee effective healthcare delivery at the specialist hospital.

The original facility on Lafia Road, Akwanga, was commissioned on May 26, 2019, by the previous administration and was celebrated as a beacon of modern healthcare in the Nasarawa North senatorial zone. However, growing healthcare demands have since prompted a significant upgrade to specialist status.

The project includes new construction, expansion, installation of advanced medical equipment, and recruitment of specialized medical doctors and nurses approvals for which the Governor has already granted.

State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, noted during the groundbreaking ceremony that the goal is to establish a tertiary-level healthcare hub capable of handling complex medical cases that previously required referral to cities like Jos or Abuja.

As medical services continue at the temporary relocation site, residents are looking forward to a new era in healthcare delivery, eagerly awaiting the completion of what is set to become one of the most advanced medical facilities in Nasarawa State.