The frog they say does not run in daylight for no reason. So when the elders of
Akwa Ibom state started canvassing for the return of Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor
in 2011, it becomes conspicuous from which standpoint they are coming.
When the governor assumed office in 2007, he met the state health sector in coma
but he swore compassionately to leave no stone unturned in the sector. He then went
further to declared free medicals for the elderly, the pregnant women and children.
He ordered through the inter-ministerial project committee for the renovation of
the health facilities in all local government councils and building of new ones
where necessary. In the health sub sector, Akpabio has provided free treatment to
children below the age of five, the elderly from 70 years, as well as pregnant women.
This brought so much relieve to the aged in the sense that they no longer need to
travel from their local government councils to the state capital for routine medical
checks neither was the pregnant women left at the mercy of quacks. |
Administering Healthcare
Wow!
Government is indeed closer to the people and the aged in the state do not
take any of these benefits for granted. Reasons being that the state health sector
which was in coma before Godswill Akpabio was elected governor in 2007 is fully
recovered and healthy now. The facilities have renewed strength just like the eagle,
health personnel feel good to give their services while patients’ confidence is
restored.
Here too, critics abound, some argue that government cannot maintain the facilities
and at the same time offer free quality services to the three mentioned categories.
But after a year in office, 2008 precisely, the governor commissioned 19 health
facilities and stock them with the right medications and equipments in the local
governments; the achievement of his promise was to the shame of his critics and
this has earned him the name “promise keeper”.
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Last year, governor Akpabio through the inter-ministerial project committee launched
35 newly built and renovated facilities in the different local government areas of Akwa Ibom state. This time Eket got 2, Eastern Obolo 1, Esit Eket 3, Essien Udim
2, Etinan 2, Ibeno 2, Ibiono Ibom 1, Ikot Abasi 3, Mbo 1, Mkpat Enin 2, Nsit Atai
2, Nsit Ibom 2, Nsit Ubium 3, Okobo 1, Oruk Anam 6, Udung Uko 1, and Urue Offong
Oruko 1.
But governor Akpabio cannot be deterred from delivering
dividends of democracy to his people so he offered a good hand of friendship to
his fault finders and said come home and see, then count and compare the figures
yourselves.
There is yet an ongoing project commissioning exercise in the state for the year
2010 and the facilities provided for the health sector collectively is 39 in number and spread across the 31 local government councils and Uyo the state capital. |