In a bid to address the health needs of the people especially under the COVID-19 pandemic and other related diseases in the state, the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi on Monday innaugurated a 150- bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre.
The General Hospital, Elinwovbu, Amagu, community in the Abakaliki council was overhauled, reconstructed, and equipped with lasting medical equipment and its capacity strengthened to handle complex medical needs of the people.
The State Government had earlier during the state’s weekly briefing resolved to revamp the General Hospitals in the state.
The decision to upgrade the 13 General Hospitals was to improve capacity and speedy response to the pandemic in the rural areas since the newly completed world-class Isolation Centre and Virology Centre in Abakaliki serve the need of the entire Southeastern zone of the country, making it necessary to stepdown the medical services to the rural areas.
Speaking during the inauguration, Umahi observed it is the part of the already laid measures to enhance and prompt response that informed the revamping of the hospital, adding that it will be a leading centre for COVID-19 management.
He said his administration accords the highest priority attention to the salary of workers, health and security of the people arguing that the pandemic is a test to the integrity of the leadership of any nation, expressing hope that interventions in the health sector at this critical time is a welcome development.
“Every other thing should wait because our priority is on salary, health, and security. We set up this Committee to monitor what is going on.”
“We must do everything possible to get all the 13 General Hospitals in the state to be functional.”
“In addition to this, we will also be releasing one million naira monthly to these hospitals as running costs of fuel and equipment maintenance.”
“This virus has tested the capacity of leaders to handle emergencies”, Umahi restated.
Meanwhile, the commissioner for Health explained that oxygen, ventilators and other medical equipment have been installed.
Earlier, Mrs. Ann Aligwe the chairman of the Renovation Committee commended the Governor for such timely response to global health emergency by the renovation of the General Hospitals in the state.
