The Governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has donated N30 million the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital UUTH, to enable the hospital cater for indigent patients who may not afford to pay their bills in the hospital.
Eno made the presentation when the management of the Hospital, led by its Chief Medical Director, (CMD)Prof. EmemAbasi Bassey, visited him in his office.
He said N30 million is to enable the hospital cater for some indigent Akwa Ibomites who may not afford to pay their bills in the hospital.
“By virtue of its location and service to the State,” the Governor said. “Though the hospital is owned by the federal government, it necessary to support the medical institution to enhance it services.”
He announced that the State is puting modalities in place to open a medical corridor between the Ibom Specialist Hospital and the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene.
After inspected the site for the construction of a Renal Centre earlier in the day, he expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of ‘renal diseases and cancer.’
He said with satisfaction that the medical facility would benefit Akwaibomites and people from beyond the state.
“Consider some orientation exercise for the public that could help prevent the menace of renal diseases and cancer,” he urged medical professionals.
Other plans for health sector, he said include: “health insurance, ambulance services and model primary healthcare centre per local government.”
The planned renal centre was motivated by the “increasing cases of renal failure” and the huge amount involved in supporting individual operation in foreign facilities,” he explained.
Prof. EmemAbasi Bassey, who is the UNIUYO Teaching Hospital CMD, said the priority accorded to health in the ARISE Agenda, to settle bills of some indigent patients was commendable.
He said the governor had earlier made some donations to the ongoing dedicated electric power line project in the hospital.
Prof. Bassey said the UUTH is committed to commence Hip and Knee replacement surgeries, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility.
Other plans the CMD said include: “Partnership talks with sister tertiary hospitals to commence renal transplant services in the hospital.”
The appointments of Dr Ekem Emmanuel John as Senior Special Assistant Medicals and Personal Physician, and the reappointment of Prof Augustine Umoh as Commissioner for Health, by the governor, he said was apt.