A’Ibom gov inaugurates model PHC, targets medical tourism

File Photo: Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has inaugurated a model primary healthcare centre at Ikot Osute in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery and position the state as a destination for quality medical services.

Representing the governor at the event on Sunday to mark the state’s 39th anniversary, the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Unyime Idem, said the intervention in the health sector was deliberate.

He said the governor’s investment in healthcare was aimed at reducing the capital flight associated with medical tourism.

“When you look at the aggressive transformation of His Excellency in the area of health, you can agree with me that he 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… people going abroad to spend billions of naira for health services, His Excellency is trying to mitigate that gap,” he said.

Eno noted that with Nigerians spending billions of dollars annually on medical tourism, his administration was investing in healthcare infrastructure to attract a fraction of that expenditure to Akwa Ibom.

He assured residents that more projects were in the pipeline under the ARISE Agenda of his administration.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Oruk Anam LGA, Sunday Festus, commended Eno for his administration’s people-oriented projects in healthcare, roads, education and human capital development.

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He particularly thanked the governor for the facility and other projects in the area, including the Atim Ekpeke–Ikot Okoro Road, Ikot Ibritam–Enen Ekefe Road and the construction of 10 Compassionate Homes in the LGA.

The Commissioner for Health, Ekem Emmanuel, said the model PHCs were designed to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary facilities.

Emmanuel said 500 indigenes of Oruk Anam had been enrolled in the state health insurance scheme, with 50 beneficiaries drawn from each community in the LGA, adding that health insurance cards had been issued to them.

“The initiative is aimed at expanding access to affordable healthcare and ensuring that residents, particularly those at the grassroots, can access medical services without being overwhelmed by the cost of treatment,” he said.

The Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam, Johnson Obosi, pledged the support of traditional rulers for the continued implementation of the ARISE Agenda.

He commended the governor for reinforcing the government’s commitment to reducing medical tourism and making quality healthcare accessible to Akwa Ibom residents.

“I want to sincerely thank our governor for his intentional efforts in making quality healthcare accessible to Akwa Ibom people,” he said.