The management of ESUT Teaching Hospital says ongoing healthcare reforms and infrastructure projects under Governor Peter Mbah are repositioning the institution as Enugu State’s flagship tertiary medical facility.
The Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, is undergoing extensive reforms and infrastructure expansion aimed at repositioning it as Enugu State’s leading tertiary medical institution, according to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Bethrand Ngwu.
Speaking during a media interaction in Enugu on Monday, Prof. Ngwu said the ongoing transformation reflects deliberate policy choices and sustained investment by the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to strengthen healthcare delivery and medical education in the state.
According to the CMD, Governor Mbah placed healthcare at the centre of his development agenda shortly after assuming office, recognising the link between public health and economic growth.
Prof. Ngwu disclosed that the governor’s inspection of the hospital in May 2023 revealed significant infrastructure gaps and increasing pressure on existing facilities, prompting immediate interventions.
He said one of the earliest projects approved was a modern Triage and Emergency Unit, completed within four months to address urgent healthcare demands and improve emergency response services.
Following that intervention, the state government approved two major expansion projects, including a twin six-floor medical complex and a seven-floor nursing and training facility, both currently nearing completion.
Ngwu explained that the six-floor building, initially designed as a diagnostic laboratory, was expanded into a comprehensive medical services complex housing advanced laboratories, operating theatres, intensive care units, recovery wards, radiology suites, and specialised clinical departments.
He added that the infrastructure development has strengthened the institution’s academic standing and contributed to the approval of an expanded admission quota of 350 medical students by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
According to him, more than 90 per cent of work on the complex has been completed, with remaining efforts focused on finishing works and equipment installation.
The CMD also described the seven-floor Nursing Complex as central to the hospital’s long-term vision of integrating clinical care with advanced medical training.
He said the facility includes lecture halls, student accommodation, conference rooms, offices, and learning spaces designed to support interdisciplinary healthcare education.
Prof. Ngwu further revealed that high-end MRI and CT scan equipment originally acquired for the Government House Clinic were redirected to ESUT Teaching Hospital to ensure wider public access to advanced diagnostic services.
He described the move as evidence of an inclusive healthcare approach designed to make sophisticated medical facilities available to the general public.
The CMD noted that improvements have also extended to the Children’s Emergency Unit and annex facilities linked to the teaching hospital.
He said the Colliery Annex continues to function as an examination centre for the West African College of Surgeons, attracting candidates and medical professionals from across the sub-region.
Similarly, he disclosed that the Iji-Nike Annex has secured full accreditation for Family Medicine training from both the West African College of Physicians and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
According to Ngwu, the centre currently accommodates about 30 resident doctors and six consultants, with further expansion expected.
He stated that the reforms form part of a broader vision to establish Enugu as a regional hub for specialist healthcare and medical education.
The CMD also credited the Mbah administration with restoring industrial harmony at the institution, noting that the hospital has recorded no strike action since the governor assumed office.
He said improved staff welfare, remuneration, and working conditions have helped reduce workforce attrition and attracted medical professionals from other institutions.
Ngwu further disclosed that the state government recently approved more than N70 million for water reticulation within the hospital, while dual water connections and backup supply arrangements have been introduced to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.