Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, has lamented over the inability of the Federal government to set up laboratory or treatment center for infectious diseases in the state, despite providing over 25 percent of the country’s revenue.
The governor raised the alarm on weekend while commissioning the 300 bed space isolation centre located within the Methodist General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, Uruan Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said since the FG has failed to do that, he had decided to set up a PCR laboratory to handle covid 19 and other infectious diseases.
He said the centre has Category 3 Virology and Clinical Lab capable of doing a wide range of blood fat and other tests for those who have core morbidities and polymerase chain reactions with PCR machines for testing COVID 19 and HIV as well as 20 self-contained rooms for health personnel and other workers.
The governor also announced that 25 more containers of medical equipment acquired by his administration have arrived and would soon be deployed to health facilities in the state.
His words, “despite providing over 25 percent of the country’s revenue, the federal government has failed to set up any health laboratory or treatment center in the state, therefore we decided to set up a PCR laboratory to handle covid 19 and other infectious diseases.
“We have acquired 25 additional containers of equipment to set up 2020 standard Intensive Care Units in health facilities across all senatorial districts.
“We have cleared all those equipment and they are at our warehouse. All general hospitals will be equipped to 2020 standard. The idea is that anywhere you are in Akwa Ibom State, you should be able to have access to 2020 medicare.
He thanked the Methodist church for allowing the Government take over the management of the facility and thanked all those whose contributions have ensured the rapid transformation recorded in two years.
Also speaking at the occasion was the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong maintained that despite being world class facility, it was not the wish of Government to see it filled to capacity, and advisedly everyone to continue to observe social distancing, personal hygiene, wearing of face mask, staying at home except when absolutely necessary to go out.
He said the “first isolation center was built by this administration during the Lassa Fever outbreak, and the second was installed at the Ibom specialist Hospital and this facility is the third that has been established to expanded capacity.”
Earlier, the Chief Supervisor of the project and State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, thanked the youths of Uruan LGA for the cooperation and support while the construction work lasted.
He lauded the governor for his ingenuity, saying, with the opening of the isolation centre, the State was ready to deal with any emergency involving coronavirus and other infectious diseases.
Good will messages were presented by stakeholders in the health sector, political heavyweight and royal fathers.
