Nasarawa Executive Council Approves Relocation Of DASH To Akwanga

The Nasarawa State Executive Council has approved the relocation of the State owned specialist hospital, the Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital (DASH) to Akwanga, following the recent approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the conversion of the DASH to the teaching hospital of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia).

Briefing journalists shortly after the council meeting convened by Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House on Friday (August 23, 2024), State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, said the council after its deliberations, unanimously approved for the relocation of the specialists hospital to Akwanga.

The Health Commissioner announced that the Akwanga general hospital will be upgraded to a specialists hospital, a decision which he said now made it possible for each of the senatorial zone of the State to have a tertiary health institution.

“Akwanga General Hospital is going to be upgraded to a specialists hospital. With that now, it means that every senatorial zone in the State has a tertiary health institution.  With that we are assured that our health sector is going to do better,” he said.

Dr. Gaza with the eventual taking over of most of the staff and structure at the DASH in Lafia by the Federal Government, it would mean that more specialists, doctors and other health professionals will be attracted to come to Lafia.

He said not only that, jobs will be created as well as youth development as a result of the massive infrastructural improvement on the existing structure.

“We expected that Lafia is going to experience a turn around and it’s going to be a centre of excellence of medical research, medical training, medical teaching and also making the university to now even expand the scope of training for health workers,” he added.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule used the opportunity of the meeting to further appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as all those that contributed leading to the approval of the conversion of the DASH to a teaching hospital.

“First, I want to congratulate you all and then show great appreciation to Mr. President for approving the conversion of DASH to FULafia Teaching hospital. We want to thank Mr. President for this quick approval.

“If you remember, the first approval for the conversion came during the past administration but as at that time, the approval was for the relocation of all the doctors, all the personnel and facility from FMC Keffi to come here, which was not exactly what we wanted. We kept delaying and kept writing. Kept pleading. At the end of the day, we want to thank Mr. President for the final approval where we now have a full-fledged FMC in Keffi, a full-fledged teaching hospital in Lafia. But we also have a specialist hospital either going to be in Lafia or relocated somewhere else,” he stated.

While acknowledging efforts by various individuals and groups leading to the granting of the approval, Governor Sule particularly appreciated the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (rtd) who played key role during the past two weeks to make this come to fruition.

“I also want to use the opportunity to thank all those who had made it possible.  There had been a lot of work that was done. It is a complete process starting from the university. The university created the faculty of medicine.  If they didn’t create that, there wouldn’t have been a teaching hospital.  First, we congratulate them.  Then, our members of the National Assembly sponsored the bill, starting with Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura and all other members who have worked so hard to make sure it happened,” he added.

He equally appreciated the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe for his going back and forth, as well as the Minster of Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate.

“The main work is getting it all the way through to the Ministry of Health, to even accept, to the NUC to even go and do the inspection and also accept. And definitely, the State Government for all the work that has been done, especially the Deputy Governor for going back and forth also,” he added.