Nasarawa: Work begins on N1bn modern hospital for free medical service

By Ali Abare Abubakar

A member of the Federal House of Representatives, Dr. Joseph Kigbu (PDP, Lafia/Obi) has said that work has commenced in earnest on the construction of an ultra-modern hospital situated at Azuba Bashayi, Lafia local government, meant to be the central point for his free medical missions.

Dr. Kigbu disclosed this in Lafia, yesterday, while flagging off a 4-day free medical mission at Murya, a few kilometers from Lafia, the state capital, adding that the 60-bed capacity hospital is estimated to cost about N1 billion when completed and furnished.

He said when completed, the hospital which comprises an isolation centre for the treatment of contagious diseases, guest houses for visiting volunteer doctors, a conference hall, treatment centre for

HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, among others, will also look after In-patients and out-patients.

The House Committee Chairman on Malaria, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and HIV/AIDS, said the first phase of the hospital, which includes the administrative block and out-patients unit, is expected to be completed in five months’ time.

Kigbu also stated that the ongoing medical mission at Murya, in collaboration with the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and National Action Committee on Aids (NACA) has gulped N15 million and targeted at 3,000 persons with ailments.

He said the exercise is offering healthcare services in the areas of surgery, ultra-sound scanning, provision of glasses to the visually impaired, administration of drugs for various illnesses, counseling

and testing of HIV/AIDS status and awareness campaign on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Kigbu, who has earned a name for years of providing free medical services in the state long before venturing into politics, said such missions have been carried out in Arikya, Agwatashi, Assakio, Obi and

Jenkwe Development Area where over 20,000 people with various health challenges have been given free medical services.