The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, has announced that construction is underway for a new general hospital in the state, with an investment of 470 million naira.
News About Nigeria reports that the facility, which will be located in the Ikom Local Government Area, has received approval from the state governor, Bassey Otu.
Dr. Ayuk made the announcement during an interview marking his first year in office.
“The construction of this hospital is the most significant infrastructure development statement made by the governor so far,” he said.
He stressed the administration’s commitment to revamping decaying healthcare infrastructure and constructing new facilities to improve service delivery across the state.
“The present administration has, as a matter of policy, mandated the overhaul of decaying healthcare infrastructure and the construction of new ones to optimise service delivery.
“Today, facilities that were hitherto moribund have returned to life, providing basic health services, especially in rural areas.
“The most vocal statement in infrastructure development by the Otu-led administration was the approval of four hundred and seventy million naira (470,000,000) for the speedy construction of the General Hospital, Ikom,” Dr. Ayuk noted.
In addition to the new hospital, the commissioner highlighted other achievements under his tenure, including the recruitment of 33 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists, and 153 nurses.
He also mentioned the inauguration of a task force aimed at eradicating quackery in the health sector.
Furthermore, Dr. Ayuk disclosed that the state’s tuberculosis (TB) programme received support with the provision of 36 TB Local Government Supervisors. (TBLS) and their assistants, ensuring better management and control of the disease across the state’s 18 local government areas.
