Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has commissioned the remodelled and digitally equipped 80-bed Obingwa General Hospital in Mgboko, Obingwa Local Government Area, with the facility renamed after the late human rights activist, Chima Ubani.
The commissioning ceremony was held on Tuesday as the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upgrading public health facilities and making quality healthcare accessible to residents.
Otti said the hospital was part of his government’s investment in modernising the state’s healthcare infrastructure and rebuilding public confidence in government-owned hospitals.
He said improving healthcare remained a key component of his administration’s development agenda, particularly in reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
According to the governor, the hospital’s strategic location would enable it to provide medical services to hundreds of thousands of people in Obingwa and neighbouring communities, including residents of Aba and Osisioma.
The facility is equipped with a range of modern amenities, including a healing garden, digital data management system, real-time inter-facility communication, technology-assisted laboratory and diagnostic services, a theatre, eye-care units, observation rooms and a renewable energy system.
Otti said the hospital was expected to operate continuously.
“We have reached a new milestone in the effort to modernise our health institutions to reflect the spirit of this age,” he said.
“This facility should remain open every night and day. It operates for 24 hours a day, Saturdays and Sundays inclusive.”
He added that every patient who visited the facility should receive appropriate medical attention regardless of their social or economic circumstances.
Otti explains naming of hospital
The governor said the decision to rename the hospital after Chima Ubani was meant to immortalise the late activist’s contributions to democracy, human rights and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
He recalled Ubani’s activities as a pro-democracy campaigner, his tenure as Students’ Union President at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his service as Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation.
Describing Ubani as “a mentor of the masses”, Otti said the activist died defending the ideals he believed in.
He said the honour would preserve Ubani’s legacy while encouraging younger generations to embrace courage, integrity and public service.
The governor further promised that his administration would continue to support the late activist’s family and collaborate with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery.
He also said community leaders had been involved in protecting the facility and warned residents against vandalising public infrastructure.
301 health projects undertaken
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the hospital represented the government’s determination to create a future-ready healthcare system.
Uche disclosed that the Otti administration had undertaken 301 health-sector infrastructure projects within three years, including the construction and equipping of 277 primary healthcare centres.
He explained that the digital features of the Obingwa hospital would enable women in labour at primary healthcare centres to receive further support through links with the general hospital.
“Obingwa has received more than a fair share of these projects, including 18 primary health centres, 13 of them under Project Ekwueme and five under Impact project,” Uche said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Odochi Azubuike, said the hospital was originally built under the Local Government SURE-P programme in partnership with the state government and commissioned in 2015.
She said the Otti administration inherited the hospital in a deteriorated condition, with inadequate drugs and equipment and no meaningful admission services.
According to her, the government has since transformed it into a functional medical facility.
Azubuike commended Otti for prioritising the welfare of Hospitals Management Board staff and urged residents to protect the hospital and regard it as their own.
Stakeholders commend investment
The Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Labour Party state chairman Peter Azubuike, and other political and community leaders commended the governor for the project.
Others who praised the administration included the Labour Party candidate for Obingwa, Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, Okey Nwambu; Labour Party candidate for Obingwa West Constituency, Victoria Dibunma Onwubiko; Mayor of Obingwa, Maxwell Nwadike; and Eze Nwabiaraije Eneogwe.
The stakeholders also expressed support for Otti and candidates of his party.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Save A Life Group, Dr Richard Okoye, said his organisation was partnering with the Abia Government because of the governor’s approach to healthcare development.
Okoye predicted that Abia could attain the highest life expectancy in West Africa, citing the administration’s investments in the sector.
Retired Professor of Paediatrics, Prof. Kanu Nkaginieme, also commended the government’s efforts and called on community leaders to help protect health facilities.
He urged residents to take ownership of government projects and ensure that they are preserved for the benefit of future generations.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD; and other senior government officials.
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