The much talked-about “world-class” Akwa Ibom specialist hospital has finally begun operations, six months after it was hurriedly commissioned by former Governor Godswill Akpabio who left office May 29.
The hospital, initially
known as the Akwa Ibom 20th Anniversary Hospital, is now officially called Ibom
Specialist Hospital.
The hospital became a
subject of controversy in September after Mr. Akpabio, now senate minority
leader, travelled to the United Kingdom for medical attention after a car
accident, abandoning the multibillion naira facility his administration
promoted as being of world class standard.
Mr. Akpabio later said
the hospital’s takeoff was delayed because foreign doctors billed to work there
had not been cleared by the Nigerian Immigration Service to travel to the
country.
He said the hospital
would start off with 150 expatriates at once.
Some of the doctors
are now in the state, and have been deployed to test run equipment at the
facility.
About 25 foreign
doctors have so far started work at the hospital while about 125 others were
still being expected in the country, Premium Times learnt.
It was unclear how
many Nigerian doctors would be employed at the new hospital.
On Wednesday, doctors,
mostly Indians, were busy carrying out medical examinations on the people who
visited the hospital for treatment.
An Indian cardiologist
carried out blood pressure test and cardiac echo on a Premium Times reporter
who was at the hospital.
“It’s a standard
hospital that could be compared to any hospital anywhere in the world,” the
cardiologist said.
For now, medical
examination is free at the Ibom Specialist Hospital.
-Premium Times
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