The Nkporo Cottage Hospital in Ohafia LGA of Abia State, fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, was formally commissioned Friday by the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Governor Ikpeazu said that the Hospital will provide accessible and affordable healthcare services to children, women and the aged of society.

The Governor noted that the Nkporo Cottage Hospital which was conceived few months ago has come to reality and thanked God for the achievement.

He said that Government had deployed a lot of resources to see the hospital to its present state, adding that the hospital was fully equipped with modern equipment and medical personnel that will adequately take care of all.

Equipment at the new hospital among others include ultra sound equipment, radiant warmer for new born babies, incubators, fully equipped theatre that can undertake orthopaedic surgery, fully equipped laboratory and solar power system as alternative power source.

The Governor said that the hospital was built for Ndi Nkporo to be managed by Ndi Nkporo, adding that every person working in the hospital must reside in Nkporo as to be able to attend to emergency situations as they arise.

The State Chief Executive who announced a N1m monthly subvention to the hospital for the first six months urged the people of Nkporo both at home and in the diaspora to own the facility and maximise its potentials for the benefit of the people.

“I strongly believe that a hospital should not be known by its size, colours or dimensions of the building, rather by the availability of modern medical equipment and the expertise of the personnel that will man that equipment. This is why we have deployed a lot of resources and energy to ensure that we procure world class equipment in various areas of medicine that will serve this community.

“Everyone that works in this hospital must reside in this community such that 24 hours of the day, our mothers, children and our aged can have the full benefits of these doctors.

“I urge indigenes of Nkporo, indigenes of Ohafia Local Government Area, both home and in the diaspora to leverage the availability of this hospital to be of service to their people.

“This is my clarion call to medical and paramedical practitioners of Nkporo extraction to return from wherever they may be even if it is for one month every year to support with their expertise in the functionalisation of this hospital”, he said.

Governor Ikpeazu also promised to donate an Ambulance as well as build staff quarters in the hospital, while dedicated nurses and doctors in the in it will be absorbed by the Hospital Management Board, HMB.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu while appreciating Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for changing the narratives in road construction and health care service delivery in Nkporo and other parts of the state noted that the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities befitting a 21st century hospital and promised that they will preserve and protect the hospital from vandals and deterioration. 

On his part, the Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Uko Nkole and Member, representing Ohafia North at the State House of Assembly,  Mandela Obasi lauded the Governor for remembering those in the rural areas by building the facility which they noted will sufficiently serve the healthcare need of the people.  

In his own remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji informed that the hospital has all that is needed for a hospital to function effectively including all the departments and trained personnel to manage it.

 He said the hospital would give the people affordable and accessible healthcare and charged the leadership of Nkporo community to take the facility as their own and secure it.

Dr. Osuji also said the Governor has provided ultra modern pediatric hospital, Mother & Child  Healthcare Centre, and renovated Schools of Nursing in the State as well as awarded a 100-bed building project in the School of Midwifery, Amachara.

In their respective speeches, the Chairman of Ohafia LGA, Dr. Okoroafor Ukiwe and the President, Nkporo Development Union, Chief Benjamin Imeri thanked the Governor for his giant strides in Nkporo community which include road construction and reconstruction in the area.

Also, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Abia State Chapter, Dr Chimezie Okwuinu affirmed that the hospital would help in reducing infant mortality and provide healthcare for  the people at the grassroots saying that the people would no longer have to travel to far places for medical services.

Highlight of the ceremony which was also attended by the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South federal constituency, Mr Darlington Nwokocha, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu among other stakeholders, was the conferment of Chieftaincy title on the Governor by the Traditional Rulers of Abia North led by Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu who represented Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu.