Six Months On: How DASH Akwanga is Defying Expectations Under Dr. Esala Abene
By Titus Mangut
On a balmy January morning, when the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) was formally signed into law, few could have predicted the transformation that would unfold over the next half-year. Yet here we are six months later and what has emerged from the dusty grounds of Akwanga is nothing short of remarkable.
The journey began on January 14, 2026, when Governor Abdullahi Sule affixed his signature to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Akwanga Law, 2025 the culmination of a bill passed by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. What could have been a routine bureaucratic exercise became, instead, the birth of a healthcare institution with ambitions that far exceed its temporary surroundings.
When the enabling law vested the governor with the power to appoint a Chief Medical Director, Governor Sule made a deliberate choice that would define the hospital's trajectory. Rather than exercising unilateral discretion, he opted for due process a decision that ensured the helm would be occupied by merit, not favor. The selection process was seamless, and when the dust settled, Dr. Esala E. Abene emerged as the pioneer CMD.
The choice was prophetic.
Six months is a fleeting moment in the life of any institution barely enough time to find one's bearings, let alone leave an indelible mark. Yet for the citizens of Nasarawa State, the state of their specialist hospital is not merely a matter of administrative interest; it is a question of public welfare. As the old adage reminds us, seeing is believing and for those who have visited the hospital site, the evidence is unmistakable.
Dr. Abene's leadership has been characterized by a quiet but relentless determination. When the government, through the Ministry of Health, directed the hospital to vacate its original site to accommodate contractors, many anticipated delays, perhaps even paralysis. Instead, Dr. Abene acted with the urgency of a man who understands that healthcare cannot wait.
The temporary site was, by all accounts, dilapidated a shadow of what it had once been. Walls were crumbling, wards were neglected, and the entire facility exuded an air of abandonment. Yet with resources that could only be described as modest, the hospital embarked on an ambitious renovation program.
The transformation was so profound that during a recent medical outreach at the hospital, Governor Sule himself was visibly moved by what he witnessed. The man who had signed the hospital into law now stood in its refurbished corridors, witnessing the tangible fruits of his administration's vision.
Infrastructure, however, is only part of the equation. A hospital without skilled hands is merely a building with empty rooms. When Dr. Abene assumed office, the hospital's clinical staff comprised just two doctors one of whom was approaching retirement and a handful of nurses. It was a staffing level that would have been inadequate for a rural clinic, let alone a specialist hospital.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Abene moved swiftly. He secured the governor's approval for a significant recruitment drive, and the numbers tell the story: 25 doctors and 40 nurses have been approved for appointment. Beyond this, 20 visiting consultants spanning multiple specialties have been engaged and are actively providing clinical services. These are not faceless statistics but living, breathing professionals who now bring their expertise to the people of Nasarawa State.
Under Dr. Abene's watch, and with the unwavering support of Governor Sule, the hospital has acquired critical medical equipment that would be the envy of many older institutions. The Theatre, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic, Dental, Radiology, Cardiology, Accident & Emergency, Laboratory, and ENT units have all received state-of-the-art equipment, now deployed and serving patients.
Perhaps most heartening is the establishment of a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) a highly specialized Level 2 immediate care environment dedicated to the comprehensive management of neonates who are moderately ill, premature (typically 32–36 weeks gestation), or convalescing after intensive care. For the families of Nasarawa State, this unit represents not just a facility but a lifeline a sanctuary where the most vulnerable lives can be nurtured back to health.
The hospital's SERVICOM unit, which had been moribund with just one ineffective staff member prior to the CMD's arrival, has been revitalized. Recognizing its potential, Dr. Abene strengthened the unit to ensure that patients and the public receive healthcare services that are not only timely but respectful a reminder that in healthcare, how we treat people matters as much as what we treat them for.
Space remains a constraint. Operating at its temporary site with just 33 beds initially, the hospital has managed to expand its capacity to 61 beds through the renovation of additional wards. This is not merely a numerical increase; it represents a tangible improvement in the hospital's ability to serve its community, easing congestion and enhancing service delivery.
In a recent development of strategic importance, the governor constituted the hospital's Governing Board. The Board's mandate is to provide high-level, objective oversight ensuring the institution fulfills its clinical, research, and training mandates safely and effectively, without interfering in day-to-day operations. Following their inauguration, the Board members toured both the new permanent site and the temporary facility. The Board Chairman, HRH Pastor Samson Gamu Yare, was overcome by the level of renovation, showering praise on the CMD for his prompt attention to the dilapidated structures that now house a 61-bed specialist hospital.
Shortly after their appointment, the Board members visited the governor to express their gratitude and to brief him on the progress made so far. They also outlined some challenges facing the hospital a conversation that prompted the governor to begin taking urgent steps to address them.
To ensure continuous improvement, Dr. Abene recently introduced monthly meetings with directors and heads of units. These gatherings serve as a forum for reviewing progress, discussing challenges, and proffering solutions a governance structure that ensures the hospital remains responsive to its patients' needs.
One major challenge facing the facility is an acute shortage of water a problem that would cripple any healthcare institution. However, the governor has already approved the drilling of a solar-powered borehole at the temporary site. The drilling of the borehole has been completed and water is been supply to the Hospital
Six months is a short time to build an institution, yet it is long enough to plant a flag. While the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital is still navigating the growing pains of a new facility from water shortages to spatial constraints it is clear that Dr. Esala E. Abene has not spent these months waiting. Instead, he has built, recruited, equipped, and inspired.
With the Governor's strategic support, a proactive Board, and a leadership team that understands the urgency of healthcare delivery, DASH is rapidly shedding its temporary status to become a beacon of specialist care in Nasarawa State. The foundation has been laid, the momentum is undeniable, and if the first six months are any indication, the future of healthcare in the state is in safe hands.
The story of DASH is still being written, but its opening chapters are already worth telling. Titus Mangut is with the Information and Public Relations DASH Akwanga
