A multi-purpose hospital built by the Federal Government under the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, has been commissioned at Obeaja, Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State, by Governor Alex Otti.
The hospital, which has 100 beds, was started by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and completed by the present administration of President Bola Tinubu.
While commissioning the project, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti thanked President Bola Tinubu for completing the hospital and for converting the hospital into a multi-purpose hospital to accommodate the health needs of other members of society.
He promised that the Abia State government would assume the management of the new hospital, saying that 24-hour security, additional lands for the building of doctors’ quarters and a facility management team would be needed to maintain high standards.
Otti, who expressed joy that the maternal mortality rate has drastically reduced in Abia State to 136 presently, from its previous rate of 1047 in 2020 and 531 in 2022, as disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, assured that maternal mortality would further be reduced in the state.
He lamented that Nigerians spend between $1.6 billion and $2 billion on medical tourism annually, but said that his administration will build a medical village to checkmate the trend.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Odochi Azubuike, said that the facility is fully equipped to provide healthcare for mothers and children in the state.