Edidiong Akpanette
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has inaugurated the newly completed Antenatal Complex, representing a crucial advancement in maternal and child healthcare delivery within the state. The facility, named in memory of the late Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno was opened by Governor Umo Eno, who conveyed his sincere thanks for honouring his late wife’s legacy of compassion and community service, calling it the most memorable Valentine’s gift of his life. During the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UUTH, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, extended a warm welcome to the governor and other distinguished guests, commending Governor Eno’s health-focused leadership that has made a positive difference in healthcare delivery throughout the state, evident in the government’s ongoing enhancements to the primary health sector, state health insurance initiative, and the upcoming launch of a ‘state ambulance service.’ He referred to the newly inaugurated antenatal complex as a representation of love and commitment, aimed at lowering maternal and infant mortality rates by offering expectant mothers access to top-tier antenatal care.
Prof. Bassey underscored the advanced features of the complex, which include equipped wards, private rooms, consulting rooms, call rooms, offices, a mini-laboratory, a pharmacy, a medical records unit, and a family planning unit. The facility is also furnished with ultrasound scanners and other modern diagnostic and therapeutic tools designed to enhance maternal health outcomes. The CMD praised Governor Umo Eno for his steadfast support towards UUTH, highlighting the hospital’s pivotal role as a regional centre for medical training and research in the state, training resident doctors and interns, and offering a Higher National Diploma (HND) program for community health workers and health information management, alongside the initiation of a nursing school by September. He pointed out that UUTH has recently been designated as the Regional Mother and Child Health Centre for the South-South geopolitical zone by the Federal Ministry of Health. He also noted the hospital’s strategic collaboration with the Al Bassan Foundation, which recently completed free cataract surgeries for 400 patients in the state, in addition to an earlier commitment of 100 surgeries.
However, Prof. Bassey recognized the challenges that UUTH is facing, such as infrastructure deficiencies, financial burden related to maintaining a constant power supply, inadequate housing for resident doctors and interns, and overcrowded wards due to patients’ inability to settle their bills. He urged for ongoing governmental support to tackle these issues, ensuring that UUTH continues to lead in healthcare delivery across the region. In his reply, Governor Umo Eno expressed profound gratitude to Prof. Bassey and the entire management of UUTH for naming the antenatal complex after his late wife, describing the act as a heartwarming tribute that preserves her legacy of kindness and care. He lauded UUTH’s commitment to maternal and child healthcare and reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to improving the healthcare sector to provide quality antenatal services for women in Akwa Ibom State.
To support the continued development of UUTH, Governor Eno declared a N200 million donation to enhance medical services and N10 million for health insurance to aid underprivileged patients. He also contributed two ambulances to improve emergency medical services and donated N10 million to the union as well as N20 million to the staff of the hospital in acknowledgement of their commitment and hard work. Governor Umo Eno highlighted that the inauguration of the Patience Umo Eno Antenatal Complex demonstrated his administration’s vision of patient-centred healthcare services. He assured that his government would persist in supporting UUTH in overcoming its challenges, guaranteeing it retains its position as a leading tertiary healthcare institution in Nigeria.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the facility conducted by Prof. Bassey and the hospital management team, showcasing the state-of-the-art amenities within the antenatal complex. The new facility is anticipated to improve maternal and child healthcare services in Akwa Ibom State, aiding in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rates.
