Abia To Build Ultra-Modern Hospital To Reduce Medical Tourism

Abia State will deliver an ultra-modern hospital with the state-of-the-arts diagnostic facilities, surgery/organ transplant capabilities, with potentials to reverse medical tourism, says Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Ikpeazu, who stated this on Thursday in a broadcast to mark his return to the state after testing negative for the coronavirus pandemic, said in addition, all the three senatorial zones in the state would have at least two well-equipped general hospitals each, adding that by 2021, the state would have created a platform to repatriate the expertise of Abia medical practitioners in the diaspora.

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While commending the people of the state, including his wife and deputy Ude Oko Chukwu, for their prayers for his recovery, Ikpeazu reinstated the reality of the virus and the need for all to observe the preventive measures.

According to him, “Covid-19 is not only real but has the capacity to kill if not properly managed. We must understand that contracting this disease is not a death sentence. All necessary steps be taken, ranging from early diagnosis to treatment. All of us must take individual responsibility for our health and those of our family members, especially the vulnerable ones.”

He also reaffirmed the commitment of his administration in fighting the scourge, recalling that since its outbreak, the state had not rested on its oars. Quoting him, “At the outbreak of Covid-19, Abia did not have a molecular laboratory anywhere in the state, and we had to take samples from our people to other states. Today, I am happy to inform you that the molecular laboratory we ordered from abroad had since arrived, and has been running for some weeks now. Our people now have the opportunity to present themselves for the test.”

On measures to unlock businesses in the state, Dr Ikpeazu said, “We are responding to the global and national trend. We have allowed our people to resume economic activities. Religious activities have also resumed. We are also taking all issues into consideration as it relates to the reopening of schools. Our major concern is the health and safety of our children. However, the risk level remains high. I want to personally appeal to religious leaders and leaders of our various markets to rise to the challenge of carrying this message to our churches, mosques and markets.”

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He also highlighted that his administration, despite the pandemic, had been carrying out physical projects: “Our government has kept on with construction works on some of our roads in Aba and Umuahia. The phase 2 of the Aba road project in Umuahia has commenced, and the results are visible. Our plan is to push the project down to the Ubakala junction of the Enugu/Port-Harcourt highway to provide a seamless and dualized entry into our capital from that flank, just as we have it from the Abia tower flank. The seemingly intractable stretch of bad road from Afor Ibeji to Uchenna junction, along Aba road, has been fixed using our popular rigid cement pavement technology.

“In Aba, several road projects are on, and a number of construction sites remain active even in the middle of the pandemic. Work is proceeding steadily on our flyover project at Osisioma, and immediately after the rains, the mega sand filling of the risers will be done. I am confident that by December 2020, we would be almost ready to commission our first ever traffic interchange in Abia State.”

He also reaffirmed his resolve to constructing new drainages to solve flooding problems in the state, saying that flooding on Aba Owerri road was gradually becoming a thing of the past, and expressed hope to complete the work on those drainages this year.

According to him, “Osusu road has been completed using the rigid pavement technology. We will commence the last stage of asphalting once the rains recede. This road will have a lifespan of at least 20 years. Same rigid pavement technology is ongoing along Immaculate road, Umungasi. Egege road, Ogbor Hill, which used to be an eyesore on account of years of erosion, has come back to life. Obikabia junction is an emerging spectacle in infrastructural aesthetics, and will be our standard of beautification of major roundabouts going forward. In addition, the dualization of Ururuka road remains on course.”

He further commended the collaborative efforts of his administration and NEWMAP in Aba where palliative work had already commenced on Obohia road, a diversion to pave away for the major drainage works on Ngwa road, Ohanku, Uratta and Port-Harcourt roads.

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