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| Dr Okoho Effiong |
10 April 2020
Reasons which led to the closure of a medical facility in Calabar metropolis, the capital of Cross River, has surfaced to the fore NEGROIDHAVEN has learnt.
Covenant Clinic and Maternity located at 22 Ekpo Eyo Street off Uwanse Street, was shut down by the Cross River State Government CRSG through the Ministry of Health for being unlicensed.
According to an 8th April report on Hit 95.9FM as monitored by our correspondent, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association NMA in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk said ‘we have confirmed that the doctor in question is a medical and dental practitioner; however, the facility in question Covenant Clinic and Maternity is still in the process of being registered and is not yet licensed to operate as a hospital.
‘…From the Director of Medical Services Dr Itam, What he has told me is that he has given directive for that facility to be closed immediately.’
Dr. Okoho Offiong, the medical doctor in charge of the facility admitted that his clinic and maternity was ‘still in the process of being registered’. However, Okoho while responding to the allegations at the unkempt environment of his one flat medical facility said the late Duke did not die in his medical facility. He claimed that the demise left Covenant Clinic and Maternity in a stable condition to Asi Ukpo because of developing partial stroke. He added that all his vital signs were checked and discovered to be normal.
This development is coming on the heels of the death of the Special Adviser to Governor of the state, Prof. Benedict Ayade, on Waste Management, Prince Otu Duke who recently kicked the bucket at Asi Ukpo Medical facility after a Hernia medical operation at Covenant Clinic.
When our correspondent contacted Mrs. Rosemary Achunwa, the Head of Administration at Asi Ukpo Medical facility where Duke passed away to corroborate the position of the medical practitioner at Covenant Clinic, she declined comments referring journalist to the family.
While speaking about the demise of his biological brother, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, who faulted the expertise of Dr Okoho, disclosed that, while he cannot get his brother’s life back, he does not want other Cross Riverians to die that way. His words in part, ‘this is the man who has called me over 22 times ever since newsmen visited him. What was he calling me for? I won’t blame him because my brother went there on his own accord.
‘How will he say my brother was okay when he was taken out of the clinic supported with oxygen? He couldn’t breath on his own, his pulse was 200/ something, is that normal? His blood sugar was at 19ml for someone who was diabetic. How can a doctor conduct a hernia surgery and recommends food for the patient whose intestines were still close?
‘I have called the Commissioner for Health and informed her about this development. I am not asking for brother’s life because it’s gone but I don’t want another Cross Riverian to suffer the pains my brother went through’, he said.
