By Asuquo Edem
The Chief Medical Superintendent (CMD) of Ikpe General Hospital, Dr. Ekemini Ukut, on Tuesday, allegedly barred members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health from accessing the hospital facility during an official oversight visit.
The committee, led by its chairman, Hon. Moses Essien, had arrived the hospital in Ini Local Government Area to inspect facilities in line with the legislature’s constitutional mandate. But to their surprise, the CMD denied them entry, insisting that no directive had been issued by the Commissioner for Health or the Hospitals Management Board.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Hon. Essien described the CMD’s action as “a clear humiliation on the legislature,” warning that the Assembly would not take the matter lightly.
“This is a clear violation of our constitutional functions, and we won’t take it for granted,” Essien said. “We were here to inspect the facility in response to the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector and the approval for 2,000 new health workers. But Dr. Ukut blocked us, claiming he was acting on instructions from the Commissioner for Health and the Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board.”
The committee chairman further disclosed that the Assembly would summon Dr. Ukut, the Commissioner for Health, and the Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board to explain why lawmakers were obstructed from performing their oversight duties.
Ironically, the CMD had earlier informed the committee of challenges facing the hospital, assuring that Ikpe General Hospital was among facilities earmarked for rehabilitation under the state’s health sector emergency program.
Meanwhile, in a contrast of reception, the committee was warmly received at General Hospital Ibiaku Ntok Okpo in Ikono Local Government Area, where the CMD, Dr. Godwin Noah, conducted them round the facility.
Dr. Noah highlighted pressing challenges, including lack of electricity for over a year, reliance on failing solar power, a leaking theatre, shortage of medical personnel, and a non-functional anesthetic machine. He disclosed that the hospital currently runs with only two doctors and 26 nurses, while remitting about ₦700,000 monthly to the state government through the Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service.
Hon. Essien commended Dr. Noah for maintaining a clean environment and ensuring steady remittances despite the constraints. He assured that the Assembly would escalate the hospital’s challenges to the appropriate authorities, while also acknowledging Governor Umo Eno’s approval for the recruitment of health workers and Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s intervention in facilitating two transformers for the hospital.
The oversight team inspected the male and female wards, maternity ward, pharmacy, laboratory, and theatre units during the visit.
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