The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dominic Ukpong

  • Ibom Specialist Hospital records first neuro surgery

    Ibom Specialist hospital has recorded a major breakthrough in health care delivery with a successful neurosurgery carried out in the hospital.

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong  briefed journalists on Wednesday on the latest development at the quaternary health center in Uyo.

    He restated that the vision behind the specialist hospital was to reverse medical tourism abroad.

    The Health commissioner said that since resumption of  services at the hospital many patients have gotten adequate solutions to their ailments with the latest being the brain surgery carried out by a renowned Neurosurgeon Dr Okezie Kanu and other medical experts.

    He attributed this feat to the tenacity of purpose by Governor Udom Emmanuel who is out to ensure that Citizens have the best Medicare.

    Dr Ukpong said that several consortia of medical firms overseas and within have indicated interest to manage the Quaternary health facility, adding that the medical team from America,Canada,Europe and Saudi Arabia have sent in their proposal to run the hospital .

    He assured that the most successful firm would win the bid to carryout services at the hospital on a 24 hour basis but on referrals.

    The Acting Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Ini Etukudo said that the hospital has witnessed a significant increase in the number of patients being referred to the hospital and expressed confidence that the hospital is set to fulfill it’s core mandate .

    Hr thanked the state Government for the passion in ensuring that  health care delivery system is given priority attention.

    The special Assistant to the Governor on medical services and Consultant Government House clinic,Dr Ignatius Akpabio said that the equipment at the specialist hospital competes favourably with those in the other clime .

    He said after a thorough investigation the patient required a neurosurgery and thanked the consultant neurosurgeon for the prompt response.

    The surgeon who carried out the operation said that the patient was in a coma after adequate diagnosis surgery was required and the patient is fast recovering.

    Present at the media briefing was the press secretary to the Governor Mr Ekerete udo and Director of Information ,Comfort Umana.

  • Collapsed church building: Akwa Ibom spends N300m on victims

    Collapsed church building: Akwa Ibom spends N300m on victims

    The Akwa Ibom government says it has spent a total of N300 million as medical bills for victims of the Reigners Bible Church building collapse that occurred December 2016.

    The state Health Commissioner, Dr Dominic Ukpong, disclosed this on Thursday in Uyo while presenting cheques to the proprietors of the various hospitals that assisted in the treatment of the victims.

    The church building collapsed during the bishopric consecration service of the founder of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, with Gov. Udom Emmanuel in attendance.

    Ukpong said that a total of 168 victims were evacuated from the scene of the unfortunate incident out of which 30 worshipers had been confirmed death at the last count.

    “On Dec. 10, 2016, a tragedy befell this state, a clergyman was about to be ordained as a bishop, unfortunately the roof of the church caved in.

    “The state governor, who was in attendance, escaped unhurt while 18 persons were crushed to death on the spot.

    “Many injured people were moved to hospitals, majority of the injured were moved by kindhearted Nigerians; we had mobilised only four ambulances, we want to say thank you all Nigerians.

    “I want to give credit to all Nigerians, I express my gratitude to you all on behalf the state governor, for standing with us at that moment of grief,” Ukpong said.

    Ukpong said that a total of 14 hospitals were involved in the treatment and care of the victims, most of which were private hospitals.

    The commissioner said that the state governor was impressed with the different hospitals that heeded his plea to treat the victims without any payment.

    Ukpong said that the church collapse incident happened at the time the state was financially hard up.

    “Thank you for being patient with the state government, standing with the state government at that critical time.

    “The oath of medical practice requires that we make sacrifice, I thank you for the extra sacrifice you made at the time this state faced one of its greatest challenges,” Ukpong said.

    Responding on behalf of the hospitals that received the cheques, the Medical Director of Uwakmfon Clinic, Uyo, Dr Emmanuel Effiong, thanked the state government for paying the bills.

    Effiong said that the proprietors of the private hospitals were willing to cooperate with the government and save lives in the state.

    “We thank the Health Commissioner for keeping faith with the private hospitals by the bills incurred during the church collapse incident,” Effiong said.

    In his remark, the proprietor of Resurrection Clinic, Uyo, Dr Memfin Ekpo, a professor of Pathology, noted that the number of medical specialists in the state was too small.

    Ekpo, who is the former provost, College of Health Science, University of Uyo, thanked the state government for paying the medical bills for the victims of the church collapse.

    NAN

  • Akwa Ibom seals up two hospitals for malpractices

    Akwa Ibom seals up two hospitals for malpractices

    The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, said on Friday that two hospitals had been sealed up for malpractices.

    Ukpong made this known to newsmen in Eket.

    “I have shut down two hospitals for malpractices. We inspected them and found that they do not conform to hospital standards.

    “We have shut them down and we are not going to re-open them again.”

    Ukpong refused to give the names of the hospitals but only said that one of them was owned by someone from a neighbouring state.

    He added that the ministry had sacked one medical doctor for allegedly stealing beds while some health practitioners were also sanctioned for negligence in their duties.

    “I caught some health workers either sleeping on duty or careless about their patients.

    “Those who were negligent in their duties, I have moved them to my office.

    “They cannot practice their profession again.”

    Ukpong said that the ministry conducts regular checks to identify negligent health workers.

    According to him, the state government has commenced the construction of a state-owned hospital at Itu-Mbang in Uyo which will be inaugurated by May 2018.

    “We are constructing a state-owned hospital at Itu-Mbang; we don’t have a state-owned hospital in Uyo, the state capital.

    The commissioner said that state government also planned to build quarters for doctors and house officers.

    NAN

  • Akwa Ibom sacks medical doctor for theft of beds

    Akwa Ibom sacks medical doctor for theft of beds

    The Akwa Ibom  Government says it has sacked Dr. Nwaopara A.U, a Consultant and Medical Superintendent, Psychiatric Hospital, Eket, for allegedly stealing six hospital beds and converting them to personal use.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, made the disclosure while addressing the management and staff of the hospital in Eket on Friday.

    He alleged that the doctor stole the beds in October last year and converted them to use in his private hospital in Marina area of Eket.

    But Dr Nwaopara told our reporter that the matter was in court.

    “We have terminated the appointment of the doctor who stole the beds in the psychiatric hospital and converted them to personal use.

    “We will not condone such attitude from any doctor. I want to thank the management of the hospital for their cooperation during the investigations,” Ukpong said.

    The commissioner, however, observed that the psychiatric hospital was one of the most neglected in the state.

    He said that the hospital lacked facilities and lamented that its management failed to notify the health authorities in Akwa Ibom.

    He said the hospital faced challenges, including inadequate space, lack of equipment, shortage of staff, zero subvention, and promised to tackle the challenges.

    Ukpong however thanked the hospital management for its services to the state despite the challenges.

    He reassured the management that the state government would equip the hospital very soon.

    NAN

  • Building collapse: No mass burial for victims – Akwa Ibom

    Building collapse: No mass burial for victims – Akwa Ibom

    The Akwa Ibom State Government on Wednesday said it would not conduct mass burial for victims of Saturday’s collapsed building at a church in Uyo, the state capital.

    Speaking at a press briefing at the Government House, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Dominic Ukpong, said corpses of the dead victims would be released to their family members as soon as the police concludes its investigation.

    The commissioner said 26 people died in the incident.

    He said: “Death toll is now 26. Patients in the hospitals are 168. There are 50 outpatients. Nine hospitals have the following patients:  UUTH (28), Ibom Specialist Hospital Uyo, (70), Sifon Clinic  (9), Lifecare clinic (24), Premiers clinic ( 9), St Lukes Hospital (22) Gateway Medical Centre (2), Uwah Mfon Clinic (1), First Line Clinic (1) and Alma Clinic and Surgery ( 2) .”