Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed sadness over the sorry state of cottage hospitals in the state, and directed immediate repairs of two in each of the three senatorial districts.
Governor Eno who visited Cottage Hospital, Akai Ubium shortly after a commemorative service at The Salvation Army, Akwa Ibom South East Division, in Akai Ubium, said primary healthcare is a major focus and component of the ARISE Agenda which must be given full expression.
Eno who was visibly saddened by the state of decay at the cottage hospital, called for a full audit on the state of all the cottage hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state to ascertain the nature of intervention needed in each health facility.
He noted that the state was doing well with secondary health-care given the state-of-the-art facilities at the general hospitals across the state, stressing that they must be complemented with good primary healthcare facilities which according to him, would serve as referral centres instead of people taking all medical issues straight to the secondary healthcare facilities.
The Governor said as part of his rural development plan, the primary healthcare centres in all the wards of the state will be fixed and provided with resident doctors.
Recall that the Governor had issued a similar directive for revamping of CKS Primary School with staff quarters as a model for the planned intervention in the education sector which will also have teachers living within school premises.
Earlier at the church service, the Governor had commiserated with The Salvation Army and families of officers who died on June 29, 2023 in an auto crash at Ovia River Bridge, along Lagos-Benin expressway while returning from the church Officers Council Meeting at Lagos.
The Governor who in his usual manner started with the popular song by Frank Huston, “It pays to serve Jesus,” said as a Pastor, he understands their present situation having had a similar experience with his church members many years back.
“We came here today to say to the church and families of those that lost their loved ones that it is well. We just came to say it is well.
“I have been told of stories of both parents going, I have been told of two sons from one family and so many stories. But we came here as the Government and people of Akwa Ibom from across the state, represented by all the senatorial districts leaders to say to you please accept our sincere condolences.
“It is painful and I find it difficult to do the work of Consoler-in-Chief in this circumstance, but I know that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter-in-Chief and the Holy Spirit will be made available to comfort you, the church and families of those that lost their dear ones.
“At times like this, we are short of words. We are just short of the right words to use, but let our coming here today speak to the fact that this Government has human feeling. Let our coming here today speak to the fact that we care about our people wherever they are. Let our coming here today show that we have respect to the souls of those that have departed. I think that is the message that we have brought.
“That is why as a Government, we have decided with all of us, the Service Commanders, all our people came in from Abuja just to be with you as a state, to show our sympathy, to show our solidarity and to show to you that you are not alone,” he consoled.
Reflecting on a similar tragic circumstance in his church years back, he admitted knowing what the church and families left behind have gone through, and urged the deceased families not to lose hope in God as He will strengthen and sustain them.
Governor Eno donated a purse to the church to offset the burial expenses, a separate donation to the church missionary and to the families of the deceased, insisting that the money should be paid directly to the beneficiaries.
‘‘As a pastor, I have been through this before. So, I can tell you I understand how you feel. I understand perfectly what you are going through, but I’m asking that the God that strengthened me and saw me through that moment will see you through in the Name of Jesus.”
Pastor Eno, who was accompanied by his wife, Patience, urged the bereaved families and the church to be consoled by the experience of Horatio Spafford who was courageous to say “It Is Well With My Soul,” despite the seeming tribulation that visited him.
As a demonstration of his commitment to repositioning the education sector, the Governor also offered to partner with the Salvation Army for the government to take over and upgrade facilities at the popular Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai Ubium.
Eno expressed delight on the array of personalities produced by the Salvation Army School, Akai Ubium, saying that government would upgrade the school with basic facilities.
He gave his commitment in the retention of the name of the school, adding that Principals sent to the school will be of The Salvation Army denomination even with the government’s ownership of the institution and particularly commended the mission for sustaining the school overtime.
Delivering a sermon entitled Trusting God taken from Job 13:15, the Salvation Army Divisional Director of Women Ministries, DDWM, Akwa Ibom South-East, Major Esther Uwak, admonished the Church not to put their trust in man, materials or anything that are not eternal, but should found their hope in the Almighty and eternal God, as the biblical Job did.
