By Our Reporter 

The Chairman of the Governing Board of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, DASH, Akwanga, Pastor Samson Gamu Yare, has commended the Chief Medical Director and the hospital’s management for upgrading services and revitalizing the old general hospital.

Pastor Yare, who is also the Chun Mada, made the commendation shortly after touring the new temporary site with members of the board.

He said that on relocating to the temporary site, the hospital met dilapidated structures with most facilities carted away. “As we went round, you could see that massive renovations have been carried out, bringing the facility to the status of a specialist hospital. The staff are also working hard to ensure effective service delivery. So far, we can say work is in progress,” he said.

The paramount ruler also emphasized the role of traditional leaders in promoting healthcare. “My primary role is to urge my people to live healthy lives, because a hospital is not a place one should frequent. It is not a hospitality industry. First, I will advocate for my people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Second, I will advise them not to resort to local or untested medicine, but to go to the hospital where doctors will attend to them properly. They must prioritize the hospital when the need arises,” he said.

Speaking while receiving the board members, the consultant for the specialist hospital project, Architect Salihu Ogyebola, said the project is progressing well. “Any project that has just started takes a while before you can see visible physical progress,” he explained.

Ogyebola said the project will expand the facility from a general hospital to a specialist hospital, essentially a tertiary institution. “The concept behind this project is that Akwanga is a central location, both within the state and in Nigeria at large. It will serve not only the people of this zone but the entire nation. Akwanga is strategically located, and we want to make this hospital a pride of the state,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director briefed the governing board on progress made since relocating to the temporary site, which allowed construction, expansion, and upgrade work to continue.

The CMD acknowledged that as a new hospital, some challenges are inevitable, but commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for addressing urgent needs. He disclosed that the hospital has expanded from 30 beds to 61 beds, and that some equipment have been acquired and installed.

He added that the hospital has engaged consultants in different fields and has employed 40 nurses as approved by the governor.