Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South, has flagged off a week-long free medical outreach and also commissioned a newly constructed Doctors’ Call Room he facilitated at Immanuel General Hospital, Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
The doctors call facility is one, among others well spread across the three federal constituencies of Akwa Ibom South – with one also completed at the General Hospital, Ikot Abasi and another with a hostel, underway at the General Hospital, Iquita, Oron Local Government Area.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Senator Ekong Sampson reaffirmed his commitment to improve healthcare delivery across Akwa Ibom South.
He identified that a healthy population was the foundation for economic growth and thriving communities, adding that the outreach which is focused on eye treatments and other ancillary cases, was designed to bring relief and healing to constituents.
The Lawmaker further noted that the newly constructed Doctors Call Rooms, finished with basic household and work amenities, will provide a more conducive environment for medical personnel, and in turn, enhance service delivery.
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He pledged to replicate similar projects across health centres in the Senatorial District.
Senator Sampson disclosed his other initiatives aimed at elevating healthcare in the Senatorial District, most notably, sponsoring a Bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Akwa Ibom South, another Bill for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical Sciences, Eket, among many other life-changing advocacies.
Sampson extended his appreciation to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for their leadership roles and support, part of which have enabled him to embark on his projects.
He promised to do even more now that he will be returning to the National Assembly as a ranking lawmaker, and thanked Akwa Ibom South for their support and confidence in him.
In his speech, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom, Dr. Ekem John, who also represented the State Government at the event, commended Senator Ekong Sampson for conceptualizing what he described as a ‘thoughtful project’ for constituents.
Dr John said that the Senator’s initiative aligns fully with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno in the area of healthcare.
Ekem noted that ‘every Senator can share money, every Senator can share rice and palliatives, but not every Senator can identify critical needs in the healthcare and provide solutions, extolling Senator Sampson for his intellectual hue, sense of humility and sincere commitment to his people.
He said the doctors call rooms has put to bed the issue of doctors not being on duty.
Earlier in his tone setting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Patrick Essiet, welcomed all and added that the new doctors call rooms were important additions to the State health infrastructure.
Representative of the Director-General of Nigeria Senior Citizens Centre – the agency through which the project was executed, Mrs Ime Badamasi, saluted Senator Sampson for what she termed ‘a remarkable project’.
Other speakers at the event including the Vice Chairman of Eket, Hon. Inyang Akpanwan, Village Head of Ikot Abiyan, Chief Isaac Ebitu, stakeholders – Hon. Bassey Dan Abia Jr, former Reps member, Hon. Effiong Abia, former Commissioner for Local Government, Dr. Charles Mbong, former State Assembly member and others poured encomiums on Senator Ekong Sampson for his focused representation and people-driven interventions.
They assured him of continued support for more dividends of representation.
