Hope of re-accreditation beams as Otti retrofits ABSUTH ahead of MDCN’s visit
By Steve Oko
The lost accreditation of Abia State University Medical College may soon be restored as Gov. Alex Otti has retrofitted stepped in to retrofit the hitherto dilapidated Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, ABSUTH.
Wawa News Global reports that ABSUTH which was nearly comatose during the immediate-past administration following gross neglect and years of salary arrears of doctors who resorted to indefinite strike.
But following the intervention of Gov. Otti the entire hospital now wears a new look as the medical college prepares to receive a delegation of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, coming for re-accreditation.
Meanwhile, there was spontaneous jubilation by staff of hospital when the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, visited the institution for on the spot assessment of the facilities.
Recall that the MDCN Registrar, Dr TAB Sanusi, had last week during the maiden induction ceremony of Gregory University medical doctors, threatened “to completely shut down” ABSU Medical College, should the institution fail its next accreditation.
Wawa News Global was reliably informed that the MDCN accreditation team was already in the state for the exercise.
Gov. Alex Otti, had during his last media parley, disclosed that some items of equipment had been procured by the state “to ensure that ABSU medical college is re-accredited.”
He vowed to stop at nothing in restoring the lost accreditation and ensuring that the university regains its former glory.
Recall that Abia Polytechnic Aba also lost its accreditation during the last administration in the state but regained shortly before the exit of the then Government.
Meanwhile, in a viral video posted by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Okoronkwo, staff of ABSUTH were seen in celebration mood, hailing Gov. Otti for resurrecting the hospital.
The jubilant crowd which displayed Gov. Otti’s portrait also chanted solidarity songs for the Governor who they said had broken a jinx.
Former member representing Aba South state constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, had in 2022, said that the only functional section in the hospital was the morgue.
The ex-lawmaker was a heavy critic of the immediate- past administration for allowing the hospital to go down.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otti, Mr Kazie Uko, had earlier shared pictures of retrofitted ABSUTH.
According to the viral pictures the structures and facilities in the hospital now look transformed.
Gov.Otti had during his budget presentation on Tuesday allocated 20% of the 2024 budget estimate of N567.2 billion to education which health got 15%.
Expectations are very high that ABSU would after the visit, regain accreditation for its medical college.
Many residents believe that Otti could be Abia’s long -expected political Messiah in view of his numerous giant and unprecedented developmental strides.
Amachara Specialist Hospital and Abia Diagnostic Centre Umuahia have since been retrofitted by Otti who from every indication, appears to be in a hurry to transform every sector of the Abia economy stagnated by leadership ineptitude of the previous administrations.
Below are some of the pictures of the dilapidated structures of the hospital before they were retrofitted:
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