Pastor Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom State Governor.
By Tony Udoh
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has ordered for immediate intervention in six cottage hospitals in the State.
Speaking during an inspection tour of Cottage Hospital, Akai Ubium, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, the Governor expressed displeasure over the dilapidated state of the facility and ordered for immediate intervention of two of them in each senatorial district.
Governor Eno who visited the hospital shortly after a commemorative service at the Salvation Army, Akwa Ibom South East Division, in Akai Ubium, said primary healthcare is one of the focus and components of his ARISE Agenda which must be given full expression.
The Governor who was visibly saddened by the state of decay at the cottage hospital, called for a full audit on the state of all the cottage hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state to ascertain the nature of intervention needed in each facility.
He noted that the state was doing well with secondary healthcare given the state-of- the-art facilities at the general hospitals across the state, stressing that they must be complemented with good primary healthcare facilities which according to him, would serve as referral centres instead of people taking all medical issues straight to the secondary healthcare facilities.
READ: How Akwa Ibom State Government is easing access to secondary healthcare
Governor Eno said as part of his rural development plan, the primary healthcare centres in all the wards of the state will be fixed and provided with resident doctors.
Recall that the Governor had issued a similar directive for revamping of CKS Primary School with staff quarters as a model for the planned intervention in the education sector which will also have teachers living within school premises.
Earlier at the church service, the Governor said the visit to the church was to share in the moment of grief being experienced by the Salvation Army and to assure them that they were not alone.
The Governor who in his usual manner started with the popular song by Frank Huston, “it pays to serve Jesus,” said as a Pastor, he understands their present situation having had similar experience with his church members many years back.
Pastor Eno who was accompanied by his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Patience, urged the bereaved families and the church to be consoled by the experience of Horatio Spafford who was courageous to say “it is well with my soul,” despite the seeming tribulation that visited him.
He registered the support of government to the church and respective families to enable them meet some needs occasioned by the loss.
As a demonstration of his commitment to reposition the education sector, the Governor also offered to partner with the Salvation Army for government to takeover and upgrade facilities at the popular Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai Ubium.
The school which has produced many prominent Akwa Ibom sons, had some of its old boys in attendance including; Senator Effiong Bob, Chief Nduese Essien, and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh among others.
At the service were: Deputy Governor, Sen (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong and wife, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem, Secretary to the State Government – Prince Enobong Uwah and wife, Hon. Onofiok Luke, CEO of HENSEK Integrated Services, Engr. Uwem Okoko; State PDP Chairman Hon Aniekan Akpan, House of Assembly members for Nsit Ubium, Ikono, and Nsit Ibom, Hon Otobong Bob, Hon. Asuquo Nnana and Hon Eric Akpan among others.
Also in attendance were; immediate past Chairman of CAN Rev Ndueso Ekwere; Head of the Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Chairmen of Nsit Ubium, Essien Udim, Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Ukanafun, Hon Iniobong Orok; Anthony Luke Udoh, Uwemedimo Udo, Iniobong Ekpenyong, Akon Michael Asuquo, Emem Ibanga and Godwin Inyieng, in that order, among others.
