Enugu State Gov. Signs Bill to Establish SUMAS Teaching Hospital in Nsukka Zone

In a significant move aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and medical education in Enugu State, Governor Dr. Peter Mbah has officially signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into law.

The signing ceremony, held on Tuesday, marks a pivotal step towards the realization of a long-awaited promise to provide quality healthcare services and advanced medical training in the state.

Governor Mbah expressed his commitment to expedite the establishment of the teaching hospital, emphasizing its alignment with his administration’s manifesto.

He underscored the importance of promptly initiating the necessary measures to upgrade SUMAS into a fully functional teaching hospital, stating, “We now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital.”

Highlighting the significance of locating the teaching hospital in the Enugu North zone, Governor Mbah reiterated his administration’s dedication to ensuring swift progress towards its realization. He pledged continued support to the Governing Council and Management of SUMAS, emphasizing the administration’s substantial investment in education, with 33% of the budget allocated to the sector this year.

Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, commended Governor Mbah’s prompt action in fulfilling his campaign promises. He assured of the Assembly’s commitment to expediting legislative processes to support initiatives beneficial to the state and its people, affirming, “The SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing, and today, you have the signing of the Bill into Law.”

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The signing ceremony, witnessed by SUMAS Governing Council Chairman Msgr. Obiora Ike, Vice Chancellor Prof. James Ogbonna, and other top officials, reflects a collaborative effort towards advancing healthcare and education in Enugu State.

With the legal framework now in place, stakeholders are poised to intensify efforts to transform SUMAS into a premier teaching hospital, poised to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the region and beyond. Governor Mbah’s decisive action underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to improving access to quality healthcare and fostering academic excellence in Enugu State.