Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
There are high hopes that the Abia State University Uturu, which lost accreditation for its Medical College, would regain the accreditation following the intervention of Gov. Alex Otti.
Various structures in the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, ABSUTH, which had hitherto been in deplorable condition following years of inactivity and gross neglect, now wear a new look.
A delegation of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria is already in the state for a fresh accreditation visit to the college.
ABSU College of Medicine lost its accreditation last year following dilapidation and inactivity as a result of incessant strike actions by doctors over months of unpaid wages.
MDCN Registrar Dr TAB Sanusi, had last week during the induction ceremony of Gregory University medical doctors, threatened “to completely shut down” ABSU Medical College, should the institution fail its next accreditation.
Meanwhile, the state Government is leaving nothing to chances to ensure the restoration of the accreditation of ABSU medical college.
Gov. Alex Otti, had during his last media parley, disclosed that some equipment had been acquired by the state restore the lost accreditation.
Otti promised that under his watch the university would not be allowed to deteriorate again.
Meanwhile, in a viral video posted by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, staff of ABSUTH were seen jubilating and commending Gov. Otti for resurrecting the hospital.
The jubilant staff who displayed Gov. Otti’s portrait also chanted solidarity songs for the Governor who they said had done well.
Dr Okoronkwo had also shared pictures of renovated facilities and buildings of the hospital.
The pictures showed a transformed and retrofitted ABSUTH, thus, raising hope that the institution might be re-accredited to run its medical programmes.
Recall that education got the highest sectoral allocation of 20% in the 2024 budget of the state presented Tuesday, by Gov. Otti before the State House of Assembly.
