From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has commenced phased refurbishment and renovation of Sir Patrick Yakowa Memorial General Hospital Kafanchan,
20 years after its last renovation.
Speaking to newsmen today (Tuesday), the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Paul Yohanna said the refurbishment and renovation executed by Governor Uba Sani’s administration is
to address the issues of design faults, drainage, patient flow, staff flow, water collection, infection prevention compliance or non-compliance, energy, and ventilation.
He added that the
refurbishment and renovation strategy which commenced in April 2024 was authorized by the Governor because He
knows the state of the general hospitals in Kaduna and he has mandated the contractors of the hospital to renovate it to an international standard.
A patient, Mary Chat, expressed her gratitude to God for giving Kaduna state, Governor Uba Sani who decided to renovate the hospital after failed promises by the past administrations.
According to her, Sir Patrick Yakowa Memorial General Hospital means a lot to the people of Kafachan and its environs because it is the only facility that serves them as a tertiary facility.
Similarly, John Mordecai described the ongoing renovation work at the hospital as “monumental, timely and well-conceived,” adding that the facelift would further enhance and increase patronage of the government hospital.
“The hospital provides succor to our people as well as neighboring communities and I commend Governor Uba Sani for his impactful developmental projects across the state,” he said.
It would be recalled that Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has lamented that his administration met 32 General Hospitals across the State that have not been renovated in the last 20 years, a situation that made its citizens visit neighboring states for medical care.
He however said that although most of the hospitals were in a sorry state, his administration has resolved to remodel, reconstruct, and re-equip six of the General hospitals, two in each of the three senatorial zones of the state, in the first phase.
“We are trying to keep the hospital’s low energy and low carbon footprints; we don’t want the Medical Director to spend their IGR on diesel and fuel generators. So, where we can cool a building down naturally and use renewable energy like solar or natural ventilators or inverters.
“We are also paying attention to sanitation; toilet, wash hand basins and we are making sure that all the fittings are robust, strong, and dependable so that for five-ten years, none of the replacements will suffer underlying disrepair. So, that is generally what the intention is,” Abayomi said.
