Gov. Umo Eno has stated that the ongoing Ibom International Hospital project will be delivered as a world-class medical facility capable of providing advanced healthcare services to residents of the state, Nigeria and beyond.
He stated this Friday during an unscheduled inspection of the project site in Uyo, barely two months after the turning of sod. He assessed the pace and quality of work on the facility, and commended the Commissioner for Health, the lead contractor, project coordinator, doctors and other professionals involved in the project, saying their commitment and expertise demonstrated the administration’s determination to deliver a quality medical facility.
The hospital is a 350-bed facility that would offer comprehensive health care.
Gov. Eno expressed optimism that, when completed, the hospital would rank among the best medical facilities in Nigeria and across Africa.
“I believe we will deliver for Akwa Ibom people, a world-class medical facility, not just for Akwa Ibom, but within the region,” he said.
The Governor described the hospital as part of his administration’s sustained investment in the health sector, stressing that the wellbeing of the people remained central to his development agenda.
He said investments in infrastructure such as roads and public facilities would have limited value if the people lacked the good health required to enjoy them.
Governor Eno also highlighted the cancer treatment component of the project, noting that limited access to early diagnostic facilities often resulted in cancer being detected at advanced stages, when treatment becomes more difficult and potentially fatal.
According to him, the new facility would provide residents with opportunities for regular medical examinations and early detection of health conditions, thereby improving the chances of successful treatment and prolonging lives.
The Governor used the occasion to renew his call on Akwa Ibom residents to embrace health insurance, warning that the cost of specialised treatment and surgical procedures could be beyond the reach of many families when medical bills were paid entirely out – of- pocket.
“Hospitals like this, having insurance policy is the only way a lot of us would benefit from it because there are treatments you may want to access here but may not be able to pay the bills,” he said.
He urged residents to voluntarily enrol in health insurance schemes rather than wait for participation to become compulsory, noting that affordable options were already available.
The Governor maintained that his administration’s investments in healthcare were designed not only to meet present needs but also to build a stronger health system for future generations.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, said the medical community had been fully involved in the conception and development of the project.
He said the state government engaged 25 health-sector unions and their leadership, while specialists from local and international institutions contributed to the planning and design of the facility.
According to him, about 40 consultants from different medical specialties participated in assessing the healthcare needs of the State and determining the appropriate facilities and services required.
He added that experts from Germany and the United States, as well as consultants from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, National Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, were involved in the process.
The project team disclosed that construction was progressing simultaneously across the three major wings of the facility, with different teams working day and night to accelerate completion.
The Consultant and Coordinator of the project, Dr Teinye Isokariari, said Governor Eno had set June 2027 as the delivery target, but the team was working to beat the deadline.
The Structural Engineer, Mohammed Bita, explained that the three wings were being developed as independent projects to fast-track construction and ensure timely delivery.
The Ibom International Hospital is expected to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom, improve early diagnosis and treatment, and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the state to access certain medical services.
Earlier in the day, Governor Eno also inspected the Command and Control Centre, the AKWA-GIS building and the new Governor’s Office Annex along Dominic Utuk Avenue, Uyo.
