The Abia State Health commissioner, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, has described the newly constructed and inaugurated Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital in Aba as unfit for human use.
Dr Okoronkwo, newly appointed by Governor Alex Otti, made this conclusion on Wednesday, July 12, after inspecting the facility, adding that the structural defects, poor ventilation, and unfitted equipment make it unfit for use.
The hospital was constructed by immediate former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration following the demolition of the old Aba General Hospital, which was built in 1957.
The commissioner said that the facility requires structural assessment to ascertain its capability to function as a hospital in the absence of these identified lapses, including a lack of drinkable water.
Okoronkwo declared, “The hospital is bad; the structure and the design approach were poorly done.
“The equipment is scattered all over the place, and we cannot ascertain if they are still working or not because there is no power supply.
“It is a challenge. The idea of coming here is to look at the place to see if it is ready for use, but from my assessment, it will take a while.”
She lamented the leaking and flooding of rooms in the hospital, mouldy walls, lack of provision for air conditioners or fans, and complicated access within the hospital, which she said was dangerous.
She said that until she sees the contract papers that were prepared before the poor job, she could not determine if the government would sustain the contract or terminate it.
