By Our Correspondent, Akwanga

The Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, DASH, Akwanga, has taken delivery of hospital equipment worth over ₦100 million to strengthen tertiary healthcare delivery in Nasarawa State.

The equipment, described as the first 70% of the short-term requirement, was received at the hospital’s temporary site in Akwanga on Saturday.

Receiving the equipment, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Dr. Esala E. Abene, disclosed that Governor Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule gave approval for the purchase. 

He commended the governor for his prompt intervention and commitment to upgrading healthcare infrastructure in the state.

Dr. Abene also praised the Commissioner for Health for setting up a transitional technical committee ahead of the establishment of DASH Akwanga.

Accordingto him, the committee assessed existing gaps and made recommendations in anticipation of the relocation of services from DASH Lafia and the transition of the General Hospital, Akwanga, into a full specialist hospital.

“For a general hospital to become a specialist hospital, there must be a specific set of equipment. Since the permanent site of the specialist hospital is still under construction, we needed short-term equipment for sustainable services,” Dr. Abene explained. 

“So we sought and obtained the governor’s approval to purchase the necessary equipment.”

He said the committee had earlier itemized gaps in both human resources and equipment required for specialist service delivery.

TheCMD noted that some of the equipment are already in use in the ophthalmology unit, while others have been deployed to the laboratory and radiology departments. 

He added that the equipment would also serve the hospital in the long term once it moves to its permanent site.

Dr. Abene appealed to staff to ensure judicious use of the facilities for the benefit of residents of Nasarawa State and beyond.

In her remarks, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Dr. Rimini Kefas Manchunga, urged staff to handle the equipment with care. 

She also expressed appreciation to the governor and hospital management for the timely procurement.

The delivery of the equipment is expected to expand access to specialist medical services in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District and reduce referrals outside the state, pending the completion of the permanent site of DASH Akwanga.