Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to commence, with immediate effect, thebprocess of upgrading facilities at the General Hospital Gboko.
Ortom who gave the directive on Tuesday 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 in other general hospitals of Benue would also be carried out, 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.
Gov. 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, Mr. Jacob Iorver.
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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, use of sanitizers and social distancing.
The Governor 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 relocate to his permanent palace.
Gov. Ortom who was received by Chairman of the company handling the palace project, Asema Achado, was accompanied by some key government appointees, the President-General, Mdzough u Tiv, Iorbee Ihagh and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Sebastine Hon.
