FG Lauds AKSG’s Huge Investment In Health Sector

… Inaugurates Oxygen Production Plant, Other Healthcare Facilities In A’Ibom
By  Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The minister of health has lauded Akwa Ibom government’s huge investment in the State’s health sector, as he inaugurates medical facilities in the State. 
The coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who made the commendation, Saturday, while in the State to inaugurate health facilities including a Medical Oxygen Production Plant at Ituk Mbang, Uruan, a Model Primary Health Centre at Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo and the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (AKISEMSAS), said Pastor Umo Eno’s demonstration of preparedness for medical emergencies is people-centric and exemplary.
Inaugurating the facilities, Pate, who was special guest at the event, lauded Governor Eno for his bold initiatives to rebrand healthcare delivery at the primary level, thereby bringing basic healthcare services closer to the people.
He described the strides as outstanding and in alignment with the healthcare vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the federal government was committed to the direction of President Tinubu in building a healthcare system that will serve the needs of all Nigerians which, according to him, would only manifest if there is synergy between the federal and what we are doing and Akwa Ibom Governments. 
Pate said the federal government is poised to investing more in the health sector through the Project Hope, which Akwa Ibom according to him, will be a part of, as there was an indicator linked to the emergency services, AKISEMSAS. 
“I will love to say that today, just the few hours of my visit to Akwa Ibom State, has been one of the best few hours I have spent in my life, for the simple reason that I have seen here a government that is for the people, working for the people and working with the people in such a unified manner that addresses the cogent needs of the population. With what we have seen, it means that the security of the lives of the people of Akwa Ibom is a lot better with this government.
“From the federal government, we are very committed to the direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in building a healthcare system that will serve the needs of all Nigerians, and this system would only manifest if there is synergy in what we are doing and what you are also doing.
  “The federal government is poised to invest more in the health sector. Like in the Project Hope, which you will be part of, there is an indicator linked to the emergency services, so AKISEMSAS will have incentives for what you are doing, which will be granted by the Federal Government to support what you are doing.”
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in his remarks at the Oxygen Production Plant, decried incidences where lives were lost due to non-availability of oxygen in hospitals, saying that the move was part of efforts by his government to avert such tragedies and at the same time ensure access to critical healthcare needs in the State.
Eno expressed appreciation to the coordinating minister of Health, Pate, for accepting to visit Akwa Ibom to inaugurate the projects, and called for deeper collaborations and partnership with the Federal Government, assuring that his administration was ready for such partnership that would further improve on the State’s health sector.
He said in addition to building healthcare facilities, his administration has introduced health insurance schemes to ensure affordability for residents as he urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure the success of these initiatives, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the well-being of Akwa Ibom residents.
Presenting the synopsis of the project, the commissioner for health, Dr Emmanuel John, said that the Medical Oxygen production plant has three compressors, each with the capacity of producing 50 cylinders of oxygen per day and was at the moment producing 120 cylinders per day. 
John noted that the 30 new ambulances were well-equipped for emergency medical services, adding that two of the ambulances were donated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).
He expressed optimism that with the projects on ground, Akwa Ibom government was not only improving healthcare delivery but investing in the lives of the citizenry through huge investments in the health sector.