Governor Abdullahi Sule has made a passionate appeal for the provision of modern diagnostic equipment, particularly CT scan and MRI machines, as the Federal Government officially takes over the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia for its conversion into a Federal Teaching Hospital.
Speaking at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony on Monday, Governor Sule stated the urgent need for advanced diagnostic tools to address the overwhelming number of patient referrals from DASH related to imaging services.
“There is need for modern diagnostic equipment, specifically CT Scan and MRI. Over 80 percent of referrals from this hospital are due to the lack of these machines,”; the Governor said.
He lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the vision behind the upgrade of the hospital, describing the development as historic for the people of Nasarawa State.
“This is a special day for us in Nasarawa State. We are handing over a very reputable institution that has seen massive investment over the years.
“From military administrators to our first civilian governor, Abdullahi Adamu, every administration has contributed to building this hospital,”; Sule noted.
He added that DASH, beyond its current status, has already evolved into a comprehensive health ecosystem, hosting other key institutions like the School of Nursing.
Governor Sule commended the Federal Government for appointing Dr. Ikrama Hassan as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD), stating that his retention would ensure continuity and stability during the transition period.
“I must thank Mr President for retaining Dr Ikrama Hassan. He has worked tirelessly to grow this hospital and understands its operations better than anyone. For this teething period, he is the right person to steer the ship,”; Sule said.
Pointing to the broader impact of the takeover, the Governor stated that the upgrade will not only enhance healthcare delivery, but also boost research, training, and economic activity in the state.
He also recalled previous collaborative efforts with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners like GAVI to establish a vaccine production centre in Nasarawa, reinforcing the state’s long-term commitment to health sector development.
