Abia Govt declares newly-built Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital unfit for use
The Abia Government has declared the newly constructed and inaugurated Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital in Aba unfit for human use following structural defects, poor ventilation, and missing or old, unfitted equipment.
The Abia Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, made this knownon Wednesday while addressing newsmen during an inspection of hospitals in Aba.
Okoronkwo said the building, which showed structural defects, has unfitted equipment, no proper ventilation, and no running water. It requires structural assessment to ascertain its capability to function as a hospital.
Supreme News reports that the former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration demolished the old Aba General Hospital, built in 1957, and replaced it with the Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital.
Ikpeazu inaugurated the hospital on May 27 before his exited office.
Okoronkwo said “the hospital is bad; the structure and the design approach were poorly done.
“The equipment is scattered all over the place, and we cannot ascertain if it is still working or not because there is no power supply.
“It is really a challenge. The idea of coming here is to look at the place to see if it is ready for use but from my assessment, it will take a while.
Okoronkwo lamented the leaking and flooding of rooms in the hospital, moldy walls, a lack of provision for Air Conditioners or fans, and complicated access within the hospital, which she said was dangerous.
She said that until she sees the contract papers that resulted in the poor job, she cannot determine if the government will sustain the contract or terminate it.
She said the government would meet with the contractors to know if their work meets the current government’s standards or not.
“If they meet our standard, we mayconsider how to incorporate that into what we intend to do, but if it does not meet our standard, of course we will discard it and develop another one”, she said.
She assured the people that the government has no intention to move the Aba general hospital from its place but will retain it to serve the community.
Also, Okoronkwo said of the Abayi Cottage Hospital in Osisioma LGA, "Not even animals should use the place as a hospital.”
She said Gov. Alex Otti has declared a state of emergency in the health sector.
The commissioner said three hospitals from the three senatorial zones have been marked out for ”revitalization” before his 100 days in office.
She stressed that since the Aba general hospital “is not dependable,” they will consider the Abayi cottage hospital as an option.
