By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has called for immediate attention to be given to the Ukpogo Cottage Hospital in Okene in the 2025 budget.
The hospital, a 50-bed capacity facility and an annex of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, has not been operational despite significant federal investment.
Speaking during a Senate Committee on Health meeting, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the hospital’s importance in providing quality healthcare services to the community, particularly in catering to accidents and armed robbery cases along the busy Okene-Auchi road.
She queried: “Why has it not been operational, considering the fact that it is an extension of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja?”
Dr. Olatunde Alabi, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Lokoja, explained that the facility was handed over to them four years ago, but efforts to make it functional have been impeded due to a shortage of personnel. He appealed to the committee for intervention, stressing that making the facility operational would greatly alleviate the patient load at FMC Lokoja, particularly from the Kogi Central area.
Senator Akpoti -Uduaghan’s call for urgent attention to the hospital’s plight is part of her broader efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure in her constituency. She has previously advocated for prioritizing maternal mortality in the budget and increasing funding for primary healthcare centers in rural areas.
The senator’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of her community is evident in her advocacy for improved healthcare services. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is well-positioned to drive positive change in the healthcare sector
