…earns massive plaudits from stakeholders
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is deliberately driving a medical revolution in the state as part of efforts to reduce medical tourism and position Akwa Ibom as a destination for quality healthcare services.
Rt. Hon Unyime Idem, member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, stated this on Sunday while representing Governor Eno at the commissioning of Model Primary Health Centre, Ikot Osute, Oruk Anam Local Government Area, as part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the State.
According to Hon. Idem, the Governor’s aggressive intervention in the health sector was not accidental, but a deliberate strategy to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery while attracting investments that would otherwise be lost to medical tourism.
“When you look at the aggressive transformation of His Excellency in the area of health, you can agree with me that His Excellency is doing this intentionally.
“What he has done in the area of health is not accidental, but a deliberate effort to ensure that the huge capital flight that the country is experiencing in the area of health, you know, people going abroad to spend billions of Naira for health services, His Excellency is trying to mitigate that gap.”
Hon. Idem noted that with Nigerians spending billions of dollars annually on medical services abroad, the Governor was seeking to attract a fraction of such expenditure into Akwa Ibom through deliberate investment in healthcare infrastructure and services.
He said the state’s emerging healthcare infrastructure would not only benefit residents but could also make Akwa Ibom a preferred destination for people seeking quality medical services.
The federal lawmaker described Governor Eno as a gift to Akwa Ibom State, adding that the administration’s interventions across sectors were evidence of a leader with a clear vision for the state.
He further assured the people of Oruk Anam that the Governor had more projects and programmes in the pipeline, stressing that the achievements recorded so far were only a fraction of what the administration intended to accomplish.
“His Excellency is a man that has vision for this state. Governor Umo Eno is a gift to Akwa Ibom State.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Festus, appreciated the Governor for the commissioning of the healthcare facility, describing it as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of the people.
“Thank you for giving us this well-equipped health facility.
“Your Excellency, you have done so much for Oruk Anam Local Government Area, and we are confident that you will do even more in the future.”
He listed several projects executed or ongoing in the area under the Eno administration, including the Atim Ekpeke–Ikot Okoro Road, which he described as the longest stretch of road constructed in the state; Ikot Ibritam–Enen Ekefe Road; Ikot Ibritam–Ukanafun–Amamiawo Road; and the ongoing Ibesit Okporo–Ikot Ekpene–Mkpat Enin Road.
The Chairman also commended the Governor for the construction of 10 Compassionate Homes in the local government area, the planned Youth Development Centre and the Chairman’s Lodge, as well as the appointment of several sons and daughters of Oruk Anam into various positions in the state administration.
In his overview of the project, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel, explained the administration’s vision for Model Primary Health Centres across the state, noting that the facilities were designed to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
He said the centres were being developed to provide accessible and quality primary healthcare services to residents, while reducing the burden on secondary and tertiary health facilities.
Dr. Emmanuel stressed the importance of bringing healthcare closer to the people, particularly those in rural communities, through properly equipped facilities and improved access to essential medical services.
In their separate goodwill messages, Delivery Advisor to the Governor on Education, Dr. Idongesit Etiebet, said Oruk Anam has benefited significantly from the administration’s ARISE Agenda projects and pledged continued support for the Governor.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President of the Senate, Engr. Aniekan Solomon, also commended the Governor for his developmental strides and the inclusion of sons and daughters of Oruk Anam in his administration.
Similarly, the State Coordinator of Arise with Renewed Hope, Prince Akpan Ikim, and the Honourable Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters and International Coordinator, Arise With Renewed Hope, Udo Kieran Akpan, commended Governor Eno for trusting and empowering indigenes of Oruk Anam.
The Member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency, who was represented by his wife, Mrs Ememobong Sampson Idiong, conveyed the constituency’s appreciation for the Governor’s interventions and expressed confidence that Oruk Anam would record a strong performance in the 2027 elections.
The Paramount Ruler, Akuku Engr. Obosi, and other stakeholders also commended the administration for its people-oriented projects, particularly in healthcare, roads, education and human capital development, pledging their support for the continued implementation of the ARISE Agenda.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of health insurance scheme cards to beneficiaries from Oruk Anam Local Government Area by the Chairman of the State Health Insurance Scheme.
According to the Commissioner for Health, 500 indigenes of Oruk Anam has been enrolled in the scheme, with 50 beneficiaries drawn from each of the communities in the local government area.
The initiative, he explained, was aimed at expanding access to affordable healthcare and ensuring that residents, particularly those at the grassroots, could access medical services without being overwhelmed by the cost of treatment.
The commissioning of the Ikot Osute Model Primary Health Centre adds to the growing list of healthcare interventions under the Eno administration, reinforcing the state government’s stated commitment to transforming the health sector and making quality healthcare more accessible to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
