From Nsisong Morgan, Akwa Ibom
Governor Udom Emmanuel has said his government’s effort at reviving the secondary healthcare system in Akwa Ibom will reduce the number of patients who visits the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UNIUYOTH) to 50 percent in completion of Itug Mbak modern general hospital thereby strengthening the sector.
He stated this recently during the 2018th Anniversary of Grace Hospital Moses Enoidem Foundation in Utu Ikot Eboro/ Utu Nsekhe, Etim Ekpo LGA.
“Government’s efforts at reviving the secondary health care system which has apparently reduced the number of patients visiting the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to about 30 to 40 percent, the number will further reduce by 50 percent once the work at Ituk Mbang Modern General Hospital is completed.
“Somebody does not need to travel all the way from Ikono, Ini to come to Uyo any longer. You don’t need to travel all the way from Eket, Ikot Abasi, Oron and even within Uyo for treatment at the Teaching Hospital. A Teaching Hospital is a tertiary institution, it is a referral hospital”, he said.
Governor Emmanuel disclosed that the state government is in the process of remodelling the Ikot Ekpene hospital and link it up to the School of Midwifery at Urua Akpan, so that students can be going to the General Hospital for lessons and practicals.
He spoke further on efforts to strengthen the health care delivery system. “I just gave approval for a lot of medical officers to be employed and even some of them as consultants and some under contracts. I just pray we will have more resources.”
The Governor who congratulated the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Adviser on his birthday, described the annual free medical treatment sponsored by him in collaboration with other development partners as being very impactful especially as they touched the grassroots.
He noted that when a man have mercy on the poor, he is lending to God and said that the large turn out of people at the event indicated that they wished him well and appreciated his humanitarian gesture, saying no government on planet earth can stand alone to develop a city, state or country without looking up to the citizens even in the case of Africa.
He applauded Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem for his sacrifices in providing humanitarian services to his people, even as he promised a donation of an ambulance to the medical facility, in collaboration with other friends of the PDP National Officer.
Speaking, Enoidem said the day was not about him but about his message of saving lives, touching lives, giving back to the people and letting them understand that life without others is meaningless.
In his words, “the journey to this place started about 5 years ago. It was orchestrated by the fact that when I checked the medical bills I was paying for people from my constituency and across the state in my little way, I discovered that it could make more sense to have a permanent place like this to help people have medical attention.”
He said the facility has male and female wards, a very unique laboratory, staff quarters and canteen among others and assured that the hospital will continue to provide free medical services to patients irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affinity as long as he lives.
The programme facilitator referred to the Grace Hospital as a worthy partner with the state government in the provision of free medical services as a show of charity and love to the people at the local level and appealed for support from the Govenor.
He used the occasion to dispel the rumour of planned defection by the Senate Minority Leader and declared that he has no place in the All Progressives Congress.
Barr Enoidem described Mr Emmanuel as a good governor whose performance in three years has justified their initial support and gave assurance that Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District will support his return to the Hiltop Mansion in 2019.
The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien appreciated God for using Barr Enoidem to carter for the healthcare needs of his people, also commended the legal adviser’s wife for supporting the humanitarian gesture.
Senator Ibokessien spoke in glowing terms about the performance of Governor Emmanuel as shown through multiple projects especially in health, education, agriculture and industrialization sectors and re-assured on the district’s readiness to re-elect him in 2019.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the foundation and the Chief Medical Director, Dr Udeme Akpan described the hospital inaugurated on May 28, 2015 by the then Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio as a purpose-built free medical service centre.
Dr Akpan stated that the Grace Hospital which is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as an affiliate of Moses Enoidem Foundation was established to eradicate poverty among rural dwellers since health, they say is wealth as well as reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
Chief Medical Director also told guests about the operations, capacity of the hospital including available facilities, and their partners with a call on all to be part of wealth creation by supporting the provision of good health care services to the poor at no cost.
Highpoints of the event was the presentation of awards to Governor Emmanuel, his Deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, Speaker, House of Assembly, Barrister Onofiok Luke, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, Commsioner for Works, Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen, Senator Ibokessien, former Commissioner for Information Mr Aniekan Umanah, among others for identifying with the humanitarian project.
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