Government News Source|24 September 2019
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams has commended the Chief Medical Director, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme for achieving so much within a short period in office NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.
Williams gave the commendations when he led the leadership of the House, alongsite the Chairman and members, House Committee on Health, on a familiarization visit to the Chief Medical Director, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH) in his office.
The Speaker acknowledged that in the space of a very short period in office, the CMD has achieved much with glaring signs by mere entrance to the health institution, noting that as Cross Riverians and Government, it is necessary to synergize, as well as identify some bordering issues with a view to encouraging the good work carried out by the Chief Medical Director,
Williams, maintained that the visit was also intended to assist the House get certain advises that will help in legislation for the State, Speaker reiterated that University of Calabar Teaching Hospital is the only Tertiary Health facility in the State, where all serious health matters are referred to, across the State, adding that as representatives of the twenty-five State Constituencies, there is need to know the effectiveness of UCTH and as well to encourage the management, to do more, he urged them to always make known to the Assembly issues which borders on the State for assistance.
Responding to their visit, the Chief Medical Director, (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, thanked the Speaker and Members for their time, stressing that it was too early for any one to assess what the CMD and his management team are doing to improve on the services of the state in the facility.
Ikpeme, assured that being the only Tertiary Health Facility in the State, he will do all within his powers to make it effective, he however lamented that from Obanliku to Bakassi, the State has only one Tertiary Facility, to take care of the State, so under rain and sun, all referral cases must past through stress to be in Calabar to access health services from the UTCH and called on all hands to be on deck to sustain the facility.
The Chief Medical Director, used the forum to appealed to the State's elected politicians at the National Assembly to use their legislative powers to assist the UCTH, noting that for the past four years, the Dialysis machines/equipment have been down, if any patient was in need of that service, he or she would have to seek solutions from neighbouring States.
The CMD called on the political office holders, public spirited individuals, as well as persons of goodwill to assist UCTH, that is in need of assistance to render services, corporate bodies alike and government institutions, Ikpeme added.
Present at the visit, was the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, the Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Okon Ephraim, others are, Rt. Hon. Regina Anyogor, Dep. Whip snd Rt. Hon. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Chairman, House Committee on Health, amongst others.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of visitor's plaque to the Speaker.
