PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the College of Health Sciences and University Teaching Hospital, Akwete-Akpa, Otukpo, Benue State.
The ceremony, performed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, was held on Wednesday, at the hometown of the Senate President,David Mark.
At the event, President Jonathan said the project, which was the baby of the Senate President, was not only to provide the country with the much-needed manpower in the health sector, but to also bring world class healthcare delivery services to the people.
He added that the administration recognised the fact that “healthy citizens translate to higher life expectancy, more productivity and greater development.”
According to him, “the choice of this location for the teaching hospital was informed by the need to bring this level of health services closer to the people, without having to travel long distances to access the services.
“This teaching hospital being established today, when fully operational, shall offer tertiary health services to the good people of Benue State, its catchment areas and the nation in general.
“Moreover, I am excited at the prospects of the high-level manpower this institution will produce for the country in various specialised fields of health in the years to come.”
President Jonathan particularly thanked the people of Akwete-Akpa for the provision of the 600 hectares of land for the construction of the health institutions of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, which he noted had the necessary facilities to accommodate the new campus.
Speaking, the Senate President said the event was of unique importance to him, stressing that the transformation agenda had become a household name in the mouth of Nigerians.
In his remarks, Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, described President Jonathan as a silent achiever, who had done well for the people of Benue. He emphasised that the project was a PDP project, conceived by PDP government.
Vice President Sambo, during the visit, paid courtesy visits to the Tor Tiv, Dr Alfred Torkura and the Och’Idoma IV, Agaba-Idu Elias Ikoyi.
