Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved the takeover of the Ogidi Cottage Hospital by the state government.

Conveying the approval to the leadership of the community on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Enehe Dorcas Omeneke said that by the approval, Ododo directed the Ministry to take over the management and operations of the hospital.

The government, in the letter, expressed appreciation to the community for its contributions to health care delivery to its people and those from neighbouring communities.

It also urged the community to sustain its commitment to improving healthcare delivery to its people.

The construction of the hospital began with a donation of N5,000,000 million to the community by an illustrious son of Ijumu.

As the community began to face daunting challenges in completing the structure, it approached the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency which asked the community to pay a counterpart fund.

The agency added funds to complete the facility which was commissioned by former governor Idris Wada.

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The medical equipment in the hospital was shipped for free from the United Kingdom by a non-governmental organisation, Ripples, founded and headed by a daughter of Ogidi, Ms. Anne Toba.

The organisation later provided a surgical theatre and matching equipment to enable the facility to handle surgeries.

In his response to the government takeover, His Royal Majesty, the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule, expressed the community’s appreciation to Ododo for the timely intervention in the health of the people of Ogidi.

On his part, the President of the Ogidi Development Union, Mr. Raphael Kayode Eniolorunda, said the people of Ogidi were indebted to Ododo for his love for the community.