Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state, has declared a state of emergency on Minna General Hospital, citing the urgent need for a total overhaul of the dilapidated facility for effective service delivery.
A statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Print Media Aisha Wakaso said the Governor made the declaration during the weekly State Executive Council meeting in Minna the state capital.
Mohammed Umaru Bago noted that the hospital, which was built over fifty years ago, has deteriorated significantly and is no longer fit to serve the medical needs of the state’s growing population, and hence the need for an upgrade to meet the desired objective.
According to him, the hospital has been overstretched for many years, and its current state poses a serious challenge in their drive towards achieving effective healthcare delivery service in Minna, the state capital and beyond.
To this end, the Governor has constituted a committee of special advisers and relevant stakeholders to carry out a full assessment of the hospital and come up with practical solutions. following their recommendations, plans are underway to demolish the current structure and begin the reconstruction of new units and wards in phases.
He explained that during the period of reconstruction, essential departments and services will be temporarily relocated to some selected primary healthcare centres across the state to ensure continuity.
Governor Bago who had once paid an unscheduled visit to the hospital revealed that the bench he sat on at the eye center had been there since he was a child “We have to be honest with ourselves, the General Hospital Minna, in its present condition, can no longer serve its purpose, because It was overstretched, outdated, and unsafe.
He further explained that this decision is part of a broader plan to revamp the entire healthcare sector in Niger State, ensuring that citizens have access to quality and dignified medical services, “our administration is committed to building systems that work. Health is a priority, and we are determined to ensue that people feel the impact of government through visible improvements in healthcare delivery,”.
Governor Umar Bago reassured the public that all necessary steps will be taken to minimize disruption during the transition period and to maintain access to essential services until the new facilities are completed.
PR ALIYU LAWAL
