A hundred medical doctors and consultants are to be recruited to boost healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Udom Emmanuel announced this while declaring open a one week Residential Training for Health workers in Uyo.
The governor, who decried the resort to prayer houses instead of appropriate medical attention, advised that, “God gives physicians knowledge to save lives and prayers should come as an additional action for total healing.”
He emphasised the need for people to undergo routine medical checkup for early diagnosis and treatment to avoid health crisis.
He commended the theme of the workshop, ‘Continuing Medical Education and Continuous Professional Development’, describing it as apt, expressing the optimism that it would enhance the proficiency of the health personnel who would be exposed to various innovations in the medical profession that would aid in saving lives and reducing medical tourism.
Governor Emmanuel said that his passion for the healthcare of the citizens, Secondary Health care institutions in the ten Federal constituencies of the state resulted in equipping them with up-to-date medical facilities.
He said that some of the facilities acquired for the hospitals have been delivered and installed, adding that the remaining few container-loads of equipment were being expected in the state.
While commending Union Medicals Inc. USA for facilitating the training programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board, Emmanuel expressed the hope that the knowledge gained would boost the health sector and bring succour to the sick.
Earlier, Dominic Ukpong, commissioner for Health, expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to turn around the health sector of the state’s economy and providing needed infrastructure and equipment to improve the healthcare needs of the citizens.
Don Ugu, director, Union Medicals Inc. USA, expressed appreciation to the state Government for the privilege to incorporate the training programme and providing the needed funds for the training.
David Udo Umo, chairman, Hospitals Management Board, while thanking the state government for approving the training, urged participants to make good use of the opportunity to update their skills.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
