Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has commissioned the newly remodelled and digitally equipped 80-bed Obingwa General Hospital in Mgboko, Obingwa Local Government Area.

The facility was renamed after late human rights activist, Chima Ubani, in recognition of his contributions to democracy, justice and the welfare of Nigerians.

Speaking at the commissioning on Tuesday, Otti said the investment was part of his administration’s efforts to modernise public healthcare facilities and restore confidence in government-owned hospitals.

He said the hospital would improve access to quality medical services for hundreds of thousands of residents in Obingwa and neighbouring communities, including parts of Aba and Osisioma.

The governor said the facility was equipped with modern infrastructure, including a well-equipped theatre, eye-care units, observation rooms, technology-assisted laboratory and scan analysis, digital data management systems and a renewable energy system to support uninterrupted power supply.

Otti said the hospital would operate 24 hours daily, including weekends, and urged medical personnel to ensure that every patient received adequate care regardless of their social or economic status.

Explaining the decision to rename the hospital after Ubani, the governor described the late activist as a courageous advocate for justice and democracy who dedicated his life to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He assured that his administration would continue to invest in healthcare and collaborate with medical professionals and other stakeholders to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the hospital was an example of the administration’s efforts to establish a future-ready healthcare system.

Uche disclosed that the state government had embarked on 301 health-sector infrastructure projects within three years, including the construction and equipping of 277 primary healthcare centres.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Odochi Azubuike, said the Obingwa hospital was inherited in a dilapidated state, without adequate equipment, drugs or admissions, but had now been transformed into a functional medical facility.

She urged residents to take ownership of the hospital and protect it from vandalism.

The commissioning was attended by the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu; Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Meribeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba, and other government officials.