The multi-billion naira Akwa Ibom State 20th Anniversary Hospital is to start operation soon. But that has to be after the foreign experts expected to work in critical departments have secured work permit and sorted out other relevant immigration and professional formalities.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, made this disclosure at a reception organised in his honour in Eket LGA. His position was confirmed by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Godswill Akpabio, during the anniversary celebration of the state and the launch of a moral rebirth call Dakkada Initiative.
Akpabio, who was honoured with the renaming of the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium after him explained why the hospital had not yet taken off.
His words: “The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria expects to register anybody who wants to work as a doctor in Nigeria. You cannot go to Britain and work in Britain unless you pass through their procedure. At the same time, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) must give them the necessary resident permit for them to bring in doctors, and those doctors must in turn have, at least, one to three people to understudy them.
“In less than one month from today, the processes would be completed. When I was ill (I don’t pray to be ill), if I were to be ill next time, I’m sure instead of flying me for six hours to London, I would be brought in, in less than 50 minutes into Akwa Ibom International Hospital and I would be very proud to come here and thereafter stand in front of you.” Dr. Ukpong had, while renewing the hope that the hospital would be utilised soon, said that the delay was due to lack of expertise, explaining that most of the experts were abroad and certain things needed to be put in place in preparation for their coming to the state.
“I can tell you outright, it will never be abandoned. What is there already is very great. The next thing to happen there is for the service to take off in full swing. It is not a typical general hospital type of a thing. That is why you see it like that. The surgical unit is such that, if you cannot get well when you get there to have your treatment, then you are hardly going to get well anywhere else in the world.
“A lot of the specialists going to work in that unit are Nigerians; but many will be coming from abroad. Those who are outside the country need to relocate to this place. There are certain things they require which we have to provide so that they don’t come here and be disappointed and want to run back. In no distance future, that hospital is going to start working,” the commissioner assured.
Earlier in his speech at the event, the commissioner disclosed that some fraudsters were going around communities extorting money from people in his name, claiming that the villages had to pay the sum of N3.5m to receive medical services.
“I want you to ignore any rumour making the rounds that Dr. Ukpong had sent people to go to local government areas to get N3.5million from people for health care services.
“If anyone comes telling you that I sent them to collect money from you for my services, please arrest such a person because I would never take bribe. I do not need money from my people to render my service to them,” he said.
The Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Kepi, who also spoke at the event, said that the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, was only fulfilling his campaign promises to bring the best hands to serve in the State Executive Council by appointing Ukpong as commissioner for health.
While congratulating the people of the area for having a personality like Dr Ukpong as their son, the deputy governor said that with him at the helm of the health sector, in the state, the people would soon experience effective health care delivery.
“We could not have thanked God more that we have found a man that, despite his achievements in and outside the country, has offered himself to serve his people. I am assuring you that with Dr. Dominic Ukpong as the state commissioner for health, the people would soon have testimonies to tell as regards their health,” Moses noted.
The hospital whose construction was initiated on September 23, 2007, has been enmeshed in controversies following the allegation that some equipment were rented to fast track its inauguration and take off before the former governor, Chief Akpabio left office. The hospital was allegedly closed immediately and the equipment returned to their rightful owners.
By: Joe Effiong and Gabriel Efo,
Sun News
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