Abia State Governor Alex Otti on Thursday commissioned the construction of a 100-bed Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Umunnato, Bende Local Government Area, as part of efforts to expand access to quality healthcare in the state.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Otti said the facility would include theatres, accident and emergency units, outpatient departments, maternity wards, dental units, radiology departments and a 100-bed ward.
The governor directed the contractor handling the project to complete it within one year, saying his administration remained committed to prompt execution of public projects.
According to Otti, the project site previously housed a hospital established in 1962, which later became abandoned and dilapidated. He said the government initially considered rehabilitating the old structure but experts advised that rebuilding the hospital would be more efficient and cost-effective.“The decision to demolish and rebuild became necessary because rehabilitation would not meet the required standards,” he said.
Otti expressed optimism that the project would be completed and inaugurated during activities marking his administration’s fourth anniversary in 2027.He also inaugurated a four-member supervisory committee to monitor compliance with project specifications and timelines.
Earlier, Abia Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, said the project aligned with the administration’s plan to establish tertiary healthcare facilities across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Uche said the Abia State University Teaching Hospital would serve Abia South Senatorial District, while the Amachara Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre would cater to Abia Central.
He said the Umunnato Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre would serve Abia North as a referral facility for specialised medical care.
According to him, consultants working toward securing Joint Commission International certification for the hospital had already begun work on the project.Uche added that the facility would be developed as a world-class tertiary hospital equipped with modern medical infrastructure meeting international standards.
The governor also inaugurated the Umuisi Primary Healthcare Centre and the Okafia Primary Healthcare Centre in Igbere, both located in Bende Local Government Area.
In addition, Otti commissioned several road projects, including the rehabilitated 22.5-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia Road Section Three, named after late statesman Chief Otusi Kalu, the 7-km Abiriba Ring Road and the 2.35-km Obilohia-Amune-Ovim Umuakwu Road.
Other inaugurated projects included the Nunya-Eluama Road in Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Chris Uche Road in Igbere, internal roads at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Umunna and Eluama Road in Uzuakoli.