Abia State governor, Theodore Orji yesterday commissioned a new standard clinic/ maternity built at the squadron 55 of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) base at Osisioma, near Aba.
Wilson Dankwano, a superintendent of police and the commander of PMF 55, said the construction of the clinic was as a result of challenges faced by the death of three women in a row during child birth and complications arising from pregnancy due to lack of timely medical attention.
According to him, the serene and isolated nature of the estate made the proximity and access to medical services in the city difficult, especially during emergency, adding that painful and avoidable death of those women and other medical emergency spurred them to the conception of the noble project.
“We cried out to His Excellency who quickly bought into our dream as a loving and caring father and provided the funds for the building of what we initially conceived as first aid/ health centre which has metamorphosed into a standard clinic/maternity with eight beds in the general ward, two beds in the VIP ward, pharmacy, consulting room, nurses’ rooms/reception and theatre/ labour room,” he said.
“From the inception, the squadron has no electricity and has depended solely on generator which has taken its toll on the running of the squadron. We therefore appeal to Your Excellency to assist us in the commissioning and connection of the transformer to the national grid.
Responding, Gov Theodore Orji, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, commended the efforts of the police in restoring security to Abia State, adding that there was a time when hoodlums took over Aba and people took to their heels.