The ultra-modem cottage hospital at Ukana in Essien Udim Local Government Area was on Wednesday inaugurated by Nigeria’s First Lady and wife of the President, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, as part of activities of her two-day working visit to Akwa Ibom State.

Inaugurating the state-of-the-art hospital, Dame Jonathan lauded Gov. Godswill Akpabio for the vision of the project which she said would provide optimistic health care services to Akwa Ibom people and members of the community in particular. Dame Jonathan who also commended the efforts of Governor Akpabio in providing free medical services to the people, particularly the elderly and pregnant women in the state, urged indigenes of the area to take advantage of the facilities and stay healthy.

The President's wife lauded the Akwa Ibom government for putting smiles on the faces of the people by bringing benefits of democracy to the people, describing Gov. Godswill Akpabio as a promise-keeper who has kept to his promises by transforming the state.

The commissioner for health, Dr Louisa Ukpeh, told Dame Jonathan that the facility was a comprehensive health centre which would serve members of Ukana Community and its environs, adding that it would also help to decongest the nearby general hospital in Ikot Ekpene. Dr Ukpeh listed the facilities in the hospital to include accident and emergency unit, ambulance bay, maternal and child care unit, two theatres and a mortuary unit. She maintained that facilities provided in the hospital would help to reduce mortality and morbidity rate, adding that the hospital would go a long way to provide access to health care delivery in the community.

Dame Patience Jonathan who was accompanied by the wife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, and other top government functionaries was presented with a sword by the clan head of Ukana, Okuku Joseph Akpabio. The chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Obong Nse Ntuen and wife, Nene, were among dignitaries present at the inauguration ceremony including a large crowd of women and various socio-political groups which came out en-masse in colourful attires to give the wife of the President a befitting welcome.