COVID-19: Ortom orders upgrade of Gboko General Hospital facilities

By Terver Akase

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to immediately commence the process of upgrading facilities at the General Hospital Gboko.

Governor Ortom who gave the directive today when he paid an unscheduled visit to the hospital, said the move was in line with his administration’s proactive approach to improving the health sub-sector, particularly the prevention of COVID-19.

He stated that the upgrade of facilities would also be carried out in other general hospitals of Benue, as resources of the state permit. The Governor directed the Housing and Urban Development Ministry to urgently undertake a needs assessment of the hospital and brief him.

Governor Ortom who inspected the Coronavirus quarantine/treatment centre in the General Hospital, was impressed with the level of preparedness by the management of the hospital in collaboration with the COVID-19 Action Committee in Gboko Local Government Area headed by the Council Caretaker Chairman, Barrister Jacob Iorver.

In addition to the promise for the upgrade of facilities in the hospital, the Governor made a personal donation of N5 million to enable the hospital complete work on the block which was designated as COVID-19 quarantine unit.

He urged residents of Gboko and other Benue people to adhere to preventive measures against the virus such as frequent hand washing, the use of sanitizers and social distancing.

Governor Ortom had earlier inspected work on the Tor Tiv Palace Gboko, where he gave assurance that the project would soon be completed, to enable the Tiv paramount ruler relocate to his permanent palace.

Governor Ortom who was received by Chairman of the company handling the palace project, Arch Asema Achado, was accompanied by some key government appointees, the President-General, Mdzough u Tiv, Chief Iorbee Ihagh and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Sebastine Hon.