Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Monday flagged off the construction of a 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, which will be equipped with the state-of-the-art technology in line with his administration’s commitment to making Enugu a hub for medical tourism.
The hospital, which is located at the Rangers Avenue, Independence Layout Enugu, is expected to be completed within 13 months, as the governor said he has zero tolerance for cost and time overrun.
While stating that the international hospital was carefully designed to mop up the market share in the medical tourism space, Dr Mbah said it would offer advanced and specialised healthcare services as well as addressing the challenges in the tertiary healthcare sector.
Mbah said his administration was keen to intervene in the social services sector as well as provide the basic infrastructure that is required for businesses to thrive, and also noted that the 300-bed international hospital when completed would end extensive travels for medical tourism.
Earlier, the chairman, Enugu North Local Government Area, Ibenaku Onoh, who commended the governor for the milestone achievements, described his leadership style as unprecedented.
Also, the commissioner for health, Prof Ikechukwu Obi and the Special Adviser to the governor on Project Development and Implementation, Uche Nwatu, who gave insight into the expectations of the hospital, said Enugu is the first state to have such in the country.
The project contractor, Anthony Nader, said the hospital was also designed to accommodate everyone irrespective of class and position, and assured timely completion of the project in 13 months.
Others who spoke including the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Gerald Otiji and the former deputy governor of Enugu State, Okechukwu Itanyi, described the governor as a visionary, audacious and transformative leader.
