In a move to strengthen tertiary healthcare services, Governor Umo Eno has announced the donation of N30 million to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
Umo Eno made the announcement on behalf of the state government during a courtesy visit on him by the management of the hospital led by its Chief Medical Director, Emem Abasi Bassey.
While making the donation, he noted that though the hospital is owned by the Federal Government, but by virtue of its location in the state and the fact that it serves to benefit a greater number of Akwa Ibom people, the state considers it necessary to support and will continue to support the medical institution to enhance it services.
He said the state was implementing programmes to open a medical corridor between the Ibom Specialist Hospital, owned by the state government and the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene.
The governor, who had earlier in the day inspected the site for the construction of a renal centre, noted that it was the plan of government to ensure better healthcare service delivery for the people.
He noted that the last administration made huge investments in secondary healthcare facilities, but the incumbent administration intends to invest more in primary health facilities with a target of at least one model primary healthcare centre per local government which is similar to the model primary schools programme.
He expressed worry over increasing cases of renal disease and cancer and urged the medical professionals to consider some orientation exercise for the public that could help prevent the menace.
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He said the planned renal centre was motivated by increasing cases of renal failure and the huge amount involved in supporting individual operation in foreign facilities, adding that it would benefit more people and even people from beyond the state to have a renal facility in the state and possibly get specialists to manage it while at the same time training Akwa Ibom people.
According to the governor, part of the donation will be for the hospital to cater for some more indigent Akwa Ibomites who may not afford to pay their bills in the hospital.
Earlier, Emem Abasi Bassey commended the governor for the priority accorded to health in the ARISE Agenda as well as unscheduled visits to the hospital to settle bills of some indigent patients, and his earlier donation to the hospital to complete its ongoing dedicated electric power line project.
He disclosed that the hospital intends to commence Hip and Knee replacement surgeries, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility, and also in partnership talks with sister tertiary hospitals to commence renal transplant services in the hospital.
“It is remarkable and overwhelming that within such a short period of assumption of office, you have commenced numerous projects and touched the lives of numerous Akwa Ibom indigenes including the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital community.
“We have no doubt that as a highly successful entrepreneur, spiritual leader, former commissioner with a proven track record of excellence; you will bring your wealth of experience to bear, build on the foundations of your predecessors in office and further transform our state positively,” he said.
He also thanked the Governor for the choice of Ekem Emmanuel John as Senior Special Assistant Medicals and Personal Physician, as well as the reappointment of Augustine Umoh as Commissioner for Health, while registering their commitment to partner with the State Government to achieve its objectives.
At the event were Commissioners for Health, Agriculture, and Works, Augustine Umoh, Offiong Offor, and Eno Ibanga respectively, as well as Political Adviser to the Governor, Godwin Ntukudeh, State’s Accountant-General, Uwem Andrew-Essien, among others.
