Senate passes bill to establish Federal Teaching Hospital in Manchok

A bill sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, to establish a Federal Teaching Hospital in Manchok, Kaduna State, has been passed by the Senate.

The passage of the bill brings the proposed healthcare institution a step closer to becoming a reality for the people of Southern Kaduna.

The bill was passed on Wednesday following the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), presented by Senator Abdul Ningi (ADC, Bauchi Central) on behalf of the committee’s chairman, Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry (APC, Rivers West).

The proposed hospital is intended to serve as a teaching hospital for the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and strengthen medical education and healthcare delivery in Kaduna State and the country at large.

Presenting the committee’s report, Ningi said, “The committee had examined the provisions of the bill, consulted legal drafting experts and scrutinised the proposal clause by clause.”

He said the proposed teaching hospital would go a long way towards addressing the shortage of medical personnel and strengthening healthcare delivery in Southern Kaduna and across the country.

According to him, the bill seeks to amend the First Schedule of the principal Act to include the Federal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital, Kachia.

The committee consequently recommended that the Senate consider and pass the bill. The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), seconded the motion for consideration of the committee’s report and supported the recommendation to establish the institution.

The Senate subsequently approved the relevant provisions as recommended by the committee after dissolving into the Committee of the Whole, where lawmakers considered the bill clause by clause.

Following the passage of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for its contribution to the successful consideration of the legislation.

The bill will now be transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

Katung, reacting to the development, expressed gratitude to the Senate President and the leadership and members of the Senate for their support, describing the passage as a significant step towards actualising the proposed federal teaching hospital in the area.

He said the collective resolve of his colleagues had brought the dream of establishing a Federal Teaching Hospital in Manchok closer to reality for the people of Southern Kaduna and Nigerians at large.

The proposed institution is expected to contribute to medical training, healthcare services and the availability of specialised medical care in the region.