The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state of secondary healthcare facilities across the state, urging the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board to deploy more medical personnel and provide essential equipment to improve service delivery.
The Chairman of the Committee and Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Moses Essien, made this known during an oversight visit to some general hospitals on Tuesday, 9th September 2025.
At Methodist General Hospital, Ikot Ebiyak, Etinan, Essien lamented the acute shortage of doctors, regretting the death of a woman on August 16, 2025, which investigations revealed occurred because no doctor was on duty.
“This underscores the fact that the vision of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, to recruit more medical practitioners is a timely measure to address the manpower deficit in the health sector,” Essien stated.
He also decried the poor sanitary conditions of the hospital and noted the absence of critical facilities such as an X-ray unit and a functioning laboratory, despite the hospital generating between ₦600,000 and ₦900,000 monthly for the state while receiving only ₦130,000 as subvention.
Responding, the Chief Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Jeremiah Okoro, thanked the committee for its intervention and expressed hope that the government would provide additional staff and equipment.
At Qua Iboe Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Obom, Etinan, the CMS, Dr. Udeme Akpan, explained that the mission-based facility is primarily humanitarian, treating leprosy patients free of charge. He highlighted challenges such as inadequate funding, poor theatre conditions, and a lack of steady electricity supply, appealing for urgent government support.
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Similarly, at Methodist General Hospital, Ituk Mbang in Uruan, the CMS, Dr. Aniekan Umoh, disclosed that the hospital, with five doctors, 63 nurses, and over 90 staff, remits ₦1.2 million monthly to government coffers but receives only ₦120,000 in subvention. He listed accommodation shortages and lack of a blood bank among pressing challenges, while staff also called for more scanning machines to aid maternal and childcare services.
The committee commended the NGO, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), for supporting the hospital with a laboratory and appealed for more partnerships to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Hon. Essien reassured that the Assembly would continue its oversight duties, stressing the importance of equipping secondary healthcare facilities to meet the health needs of the people.
