Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 160-bed hospital in Lafia.
Speaking at the occasion, Al-Makura said the project had become imperative considering the increasing health demand of the growing population in the state.
He said the project would decongest the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, and reduce the hours spent by patients waiting to access healthcare services.
Al-Makura said the project was in line with the promised made by the state government to construct three specialist hospitals across the state.
He said that the hospital would be equipped to check medical trips abroad and serve as referral centres for ailments such as Lassa fever, Tuberculosis, Cholera, among other diseases.
The governor also said that the rehabilitation of general hospitals in Awe, Akwanga and Nasarawa-Eggon would soon be completed.
In his remarks, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the Commissioner for Health, said the hospital would have 21 departments equipped with state-of-the-arts facilities.
Akabe said the project, being handled by a foreign construction firm, would be completed in 12 months. (NAN)
