Akwa Ibom Doctors Endorse Gov Eno For Second Term

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State and a coalition of other affiliated medical professionals in Akwa Ibom State, have endorsed Governor Umo Eno for second term.

The professionals cited the ongoing healthcare reforms in virtually all the levels of the health care system and improved welfare and recruitment of both retired and new medical workers into the system as reasons for their action.

Passing a vote of confidence on the governor, the chairman of NMA, Prof. Aniekan Peter, appreciated him for the welfare packages being implemented for health workers since last year.

He also commended the health reform initiatives that have brought infrastructural renaissance to the health sector in the state, including the construction of model health centres across the local governments which he noted come with quarters for nurses and doctors and other healthcare workers.

According to him, the general hospital in Ukanafun is one of the best hospitals in Nigeria with a lot of facilities, including CT Scan and other sophisticated equipment and fully furnished apartments for health workers.

“We are here to register our appreciation to governor Umo Eno for the welfare packages he approved and implemented for health sector workers last year and also the reforms that have brought infrastructural renaissance to the health sector in Akwa Ibom State.

“Look at the model health centres built across the local governments and compared with others in other states, ours come with quarters for nurses and doctors and other healthcare workers up to 28 flats and also the General Hospital Ukanafun is also the best general hospital in Nigeria comes with a lot of facilities including CT Scan and a lot of other sophisticated equipment and fully furnished apartments for health workers with solar and 28 apartments.

“The Ibom specialist hospital that is ongoing will revolutionize the health sector in Nigeria also a lot of renovations such as upgrading Airport Clinic. Intervention in the employment of health workers is ongoing, we want to thank the governor and encourage him to ensure that the process is completed this month so that the new health workers will start work immediately and to reduce the pressure on our members across the state, ” he said.

In her remarks, the secretary Coalition of all Healthcare sector leaders in the state, Pharm. Abasiama Uwatt, explained that health workers were out to appreciate the governor for the reforms, promising commensurate support.

She recalled that there were a lot of challenges of infrastructure, remuneration and other problems, lamenting that health sector was not largely prioritised the way it should be, adding that the administration of Pastor Eno, has changed things for the better.

“Union leaders across the health sectors have gathered their members in an appreciation match for the performing governor of Akwa Ibom State based on the reforms and renaissance taking place in the healthcare sector in the state

“Before now we’ve had a lot of challenges, infrastructure, remuneration and the health sector was not largely prioritized the way it should be but in the government of pastor Umo Eno, we have seen that priority and we have promises of more so we are appreciative of that, that’s why we are here.

“Today we have a functional social insurance scheme which cuts across all sectors both formal and informal sectors, we have today primary health centres that are being constructed and old ones being renovated, we have more workers, we have quality control within the healthcare sector, these are the things we didn’t have before now,” she stressed.

The chairman of the State chapter of Radiographers Association of Nigeria (RAN), Prince Mkpouto Ibanga, applauded the governor for the free treatment for people between 0-4 years and above 65 years.