Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) has regained its accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), following its complete renovation, by Governor Alex Otti.
The governor announced the development in a statement on Friday, stating that the development will alleviate the suffering of many people.
“I am glad to announce that the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu has successfully regained full accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) after a period of suspension lasting almost three years,” he said.
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“One of my priorities, when I took office, was to restore the accreditation of our College of Medicine and Health Sciences ABSU, which was revoked due to inadequate facilities and staff welfare.
“I witnessed the suffering of our students, lecturers, and patients, and I promised to never let it happen again. We invested massively in the renovation and upgrade of the infrastructure, equipment, and personnel of ABSUTH,” he added.
One of my priorities, when I took office, was to restore the accreditation of our College of Medicine and Health Sciences ABSU, which was revoked due to inadequate facilities and staff welfare. I witnessed the suffering of our students, lecturers, and patients, and I promised to… pic.twitter.com/5vHPThrVLD
— Alex Otti (@alexottiofr) December 15, 2023
The National Universities Commission (NUC) withdrew accreditation for the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at Abia State University in June last year. This decision was a result of the teaching hospital’s near-inactivity due to its dire state and the poor welfare conditions of its staff.
The NUC found deficiencies within the institution, prompting the revocation of accreditation. The teaching hospital, reported to be in a severely dilapidated condition and unsuitable for learning, serves as a crucial training ground for clinical medical students.
As a consequence of losing accreditation, the college, which had previously graduated more than 22 sets of doctors, ceased admitting new students for Medicine and Surgery.
Otti called the school’s reinstatement “a remarkable achievement” for Abia State, which “affirms our commitment to deliver quality healthcare and education to our people.”
“With this accreditation, our medical students can now resume their training at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba, with a higher admission quota and a valid accreditation to train house officers,” he said.
Reaffirming his resolute dedication to fortifying education and healthcare, Otti made reference to the allocation of 20% and 15% of the 2024 annual budget to these pivotal sectors. He emphasized that these allocations represent not just gestures but indispensable obligations owed to the people of Abia State.
“We believe that these are not favors, but obligations that we owe to our citizens. We will continue to do our best to provide quality service and governance to our state,” he said.
The College of Medicine was inaugurated during the 1988/89 academic session, with Professor Akpuaka, F.C., who specialized in Plastic Surgery, serving as its inaugural provost. In November 1994, the Medical and Dental Council conducted the initial evaluation of the clinical facilities within the Teaching Hospital Complex of the college. Subsequently, after a follow-up visit by the council in March 1996, the entire college received full accreditation as a Medical Training Institution in May 1996.