AKHA BUDGET DEFENSE: AKPANUSOH APPLAUDS GOV. EMMANUEL ON REVAMPING HEALTH SECTOR.




By Umani Uwemedimo 





It's a well believed fact that before May 29th 2015, about 80% of our hospitals were in the state of depletion, as their structures were gradually degrading. Unavailability of modern medical equipments for effective medical practices was indeed another major problem encountered in our hospitals. But today,  the reverse is the case. 


In some of our General Hospitals, the wards and premises were seen as the harbored for crippling creatures: snakes, scorpions, etc, are not left out. This was indeed an ugly and dangerous situation encountered by patients,  most especially the pregnant women who at no point should they be exposed to terrifying creatures because of the fear of the unknown. 


In these hospitals, there were little or no medical equipments. If at all there were, the few ones available were deteriorating- outdated equipments that were not functioning. This was our fate as many of our loved ones were lost prior to this mentioned reason.


Today, Gov. Udom Emmanuel has put in much strives in revamping the health sector of the State and this, is magnificent as the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh took some time out to applaud the Governor  during the Budget defense of State Ministries and Agencies Friday, 14th December 2018. 


"I want to seize this opportunity to appreciate His Excellency, Gov. Udom Emmanuel for putting great synergy in reviving our long collapsed Health Sector. There's always a say that ' health is wealth', and this is to attest to the fact that there's no way the health sector is jeopardized that it'll not pose great threats to the good standard of living/health of our people. Our economy today is reformed and sustained because there's effective provisions put in place to position the health sector in a realm of total efficiency". 


"To show us that the State Governor is a passionate leader who's working effortlessly to make sure our welfare in regards to health is protected, he has signed the Insurance Bill which has now been passed into law. This is to help completely in the revamping of the sector. 


Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh also in his remarks, advised the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health to make proper provisions toward sponsoring the long-term services of specialists in the psychiatry in order for the menace of streets littering by lunatics in some other states wouldn't also be witnessed in Akwa Ibom State. 


Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong while defending the ministry's 2019 budget thanked the State Governor for his efforts so far in making sure the sector is given the necessary attentions needed. He also thanked the Leadership of the State House of Assembly for their usual corporation with the Ministry and State Government, promising that the year 2019 will be more fruitful than 2018. 


In his budget, the Ministry has stipulated a total sum of N12.507bn as its capital budget, which is to help in: 

- complementing the Governor's 5-points agenda. 

- Provision for emergency response units in the State. 

- Training of over 200 medical personnels prior to point 2 above. 

- purchase of ambulances . 

- Health insurance scheme and etc. 


The Commissioner also listed some of the State Governor's achievements so far in the Health Sector, and they are: 


1- Construction of Immanuel general Hospital, Eket. 

2- Renovation of St. Luke's hospital, Anua. 

3- Rehabilitation of Administration block of St. Luke's hospital, Anua. 

4-  Construction of Etinan general hospital. 

5- Renovation of Ituk Mbang general hospital. 

6- Rehabilitation of Ikono general hospital. 

7- Construction of Gate House hospital, Ikono. 

8- Rehabilitation of Ikot Okoro general hospital. 

8- Construction of the Emergency Operation Center(EOC) and Infectious Diseases Hospital(IDH), Ikot Ekpene. 

9- Shipping of new medical equipments to the Ibom Specialist Hospital. 

10- Relief of over 6000 mal-nourished children. 

11- Free eye care for almost 2000 people in the state. 

12- Shipping of ultra-modern medical equipments to all the hospitals in the state. 

13- Free medical treatments for children, pregnant women and aged people. 

14- The ongoing renovation of Iquita general hospital, Oron.