The Taraba State Government has ordered the temporary closure of the State Specialist Hospital in Jalingo to allow for the smooth completion of an ongoing comprehensive renovation of the facility.
Findings revealed that the decision was taken to address environmental and safety concerns arising from the scale of construction work currently underway within the hospital premises.
An official directive issued by the Chief Medical Director stated that all medical and administrative activities at the hospital have been suspended to enable contractors carry out their assignment without obstruction and within the shortest possible time.
The directive, conveyed on the authority of Governor Agbu Kefas, underscored the need for an uninterrupted renovation process, noting that continued operations could pose risks to patients, staff and visitors.
It was further gathered that the Chief Medical Director was formally instructed to ensure full compliance with the shutdown order until the renovation work is completed and the facility declared safe for use.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Gbansheya Buma, the government stressed that the closure was non-negotiable and must be implemented with immediate effect.
The state government maintained that the temporary inconvenience was necessary to deliver a modern, safer and more efficient specialist hospital that meets acceptable healthcare standards and improves service delivery to residents.
