Clinotech takes over Ibom specialist hospital

A new management has been engaged by the Akwa Ibom State government to take over the running of the Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo, the state capital.

The hospital was initially managed by Cardiocare services but the state government discovered that the agreement it had was not working.

Cardiocare then left the hospital with allegations that it carted away some equipment.

Speaking in Uyo, the Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, Dominic Ukpong said Clinotech from Canada has renowned medical personnel in all fields of medical practice, including kidney transplant, CT scan, radiology, cardiology among others.

“We wanted the best, we had applications from nine consortia all over the world, we screened and visited their facilities, toured round and they also visited here. What we were looking for was expertise to be able to manage this kind of facility, we wanted to be able to transfer the technology because you wouldn’t be here forever, and a local content should be able to manage after you”.

We visited their facilities because we needed to be sure that you are managing something similar, so that our medical doctors from here can have an attachment in your hospital abroad. We needed to be sure you can provide the various specialties for surgery, plastic surgery, ontology, Intensive care unit, cardiac surgery and all others. We have provided all the facilities for emergencies on helicopter to land”.

Ukpong said the new team had the capability to complete the other two uncompleted floors of the facility. Of the two uncompleted floors within the facility, the Health Commissioner said one full floor would be dedicated to dialysis and the other for theatre.

“They have the financial leverage to be brought in. They have a group of companies; they make syringes, drips and all other kinds of hospital materials

“We signed the agreement on May 2 and we handed over to them in August. The first two teams had since arrived; the next arrived on the 26th of October. They have many expatriates; a world renowned radiologist, a biomedical engineer, specialists in kidney transplant, CT scan, MRI, teams are still arriving. They have also acquired accommodation in an estate. The hospital didn’t die, it went down In performance”.

He said the hospital had between the pull out of the previous management and now, ran skeletal services with medical personnel drawn from other health care facilities in the state.

To fully position the quaternary hospital for optimal performance, the Health Commissioner said the present administration has committed billions of naira to the renovation of secondary health facilities in the state.

He recalled that two days after taking his oath of office, Governor Udom Emmanuel paid a visit to the 78 years old Premier St. Luke’s Hospital Anua. As a dividend of that working visit, a New Administrative Storey building block named after Ann Ward was built and Commissioned by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Two other buildings, he said were completely renovated including the Gynecology block and the Male block. Internal roads in the Anua hospital were tarred and the perimeter fence renovated. All these achieved in a record 70 days in office.

“The Etinan General Hospital has been completely rehabilitated, upgraded, and equipped with modern hi -tech health care facilities. The Ikono General Hospital has been overhauled, refurbished, repositioned and upgraded for efficient secondary Healthcare delivery”.

“The Ituk Mbang General Hospital has been remodeled and upgraded courtesy of Governor Udom Emmanuel. Considerable medical supplies and consumables were distributed to General hospitals including Immanuel Hospital Eket”.

He said the state has also benefited from the federal government intervention in primary health care facilities in the state, to improve healthcare delivery in rural communities in the state.

Aniefiok Udonquak, Uyo