For Capt Idris Wada, the dream of leaving behind an indelible marks on the sands of time as governor of kogi state is realized. that dream has become a reality with the unveiling of the capital projects embarked upon by his administration in transport, education, water, agriculture and human development. But these seemed just a drop in the ocean as the governor continues to go round the state in the twilight of his administration in the first term to commission various projects that have been completed in the state in recent weeks. Among those projects are multimillion Naira world-class Odu-Ogboyaga Orthopedic Hospital, Lokoja Ultra Modern Bus Terminal, the reconstructed old kogi hotel to a five- star hotel that will be inaugurated soon according to schedule of activities in the state.
The over 100-bed internationally standardized Odu-Ogboyaga Orthopedic hospital, inaugurated today, 22nd of December, 2015, is an ultra-modern medical facility with fully integrated modular theatres that will redirect medical tourism to Kogi State and the country.
The hospital that is equipped with many slides CT scan, digital mammography, endoscopy surgery, highly sophisticated intensive care units and other medical department is sitting on a large landmass with paperless and fully automated laboratories.
Speaking to newsmen about the idea behind the establishment of a hospital of this magnitude. Capt Idris Wada said: “We lose a lot of money every year to medical trips to other states and even abroad. We have also lost a lot of people, not because we don’t have the expertise in the state.
We needed a hospital that can run at high standard. I decided to build general hospitals in local governments that did not have and in areas that are very populated, even if the local government already had one.
“We also decided to have a hospital that would answer to the needs of the people of our state and Nigeria at large in terms of advance health management and that was why we built the Odu-Ogboyaga Orthopedic Hospital. Sometimes, people die on the roads while being transported to other states for treatment. We wanted to shorten travel time for patients going elsewhere and at the same time get revenue for the state from health tourism. It is a beautiful concept, it is also very big. It is comfort combined with excellence. We have about 380 suites and so many operating wards. We are starting with 150 expatriates all at once.
The Kogi state commissioner for Health, Dr Idris Omede described the hospital as one of the best in Nigeria and thanked the government for investing so much in the upliftment of the people in the area of quality healthcare delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the commissioners, Hon Sadiq Ainoko, the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who described the hospital as a unique one thanked the Governor for putting such project for the people of the state.
Alhaji Salifu Yahaya, the Atama Odu of Odu who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers described Capt Wada as a proud son of the people.
The governor was accompanied by the Speaker Kogi state House of Assembly, Alh Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, state PDP Chairman Engr Sam Ohotu, former Chairman of the PDP Alh Hassan Salau, Commissioners, permanent secretaries, political appointees and other top government officials.
