Governor Alex Otti has declared the newly constructed and inaugurated Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital in Aba unfit for human use following structural defects, poor ventilation, and unfitted equipment.

The State Commissioner for Health, Ngozi Okoronkwo, made this known on Wednesday while addressing journalists during an inspection of hospitals in Aba.

Ms Okoronkwo said the building, which has structural defects, does not have the capacity to function as a hospital because it lacks equipment, proper ventilation, and running water and also requires further structural assessment.

The administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu demolished the old Aba General Hospital, built in 1957, and replaced it with the Abia Multi-Specialist Hospital. Mr Ikpeazu inaugurated the hospital on May 27 before he exited the office.

Ms Okoronkwo said, “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 it is working or not because there is no power supply.

“It is really a challenge. The purpose of coming here was to look at the place to see if it was ready for use, but from my assessment, it will take a while.

Ms Okoronkwo lamented the leaking and flooding of the rooms in the hospital, mouldy walls, a lack of provision for air conditioners or fans, and complicated access within the hospital, which she said was dangerous.

She said that she could not determine if the government would sustain the contract until she reviewed the contract papers that resulted in the poor job delivery.

She added that the government would meet with the contractors to know if their work met the current government’s standards or not.

“If they meet our standard, we may consider how to incorporate that into what we intend to do, but if it does not meet our standard, of course, we will discard it and develop another one,” she said.

She assured the people that the government has no intention to move the Aba general hospital from its place but will retain it to serve the community.

Also, Ms Okoronkwo, while at the Abayi Cottage Hospital in Osisioma LGA, lamented the deplorable state of the hospital, stating that ”not even animals should use the place as a hospital.”

She said Governor Alex Otti has declared a state of emergency in the health sector.

The commissioner said three hospitals from the three senatorial zones have been marked out for ” revitalisation” before his 100 days in office.

She stressed that since the Aba general hospital “is not dependable,” they will consider the Abayi cottage hospital as an option.

(NAN)