The Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Udo PhD has put smiles on the faces of the people of Ewet Offot community with the renovation of a dilapidated primary health centre.
The community had endured many years of lack of access to a functional health facility, resulting in the loss of lives, especially among pregnant women.
Speaking while conducting journalists around the remodelled facility on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Council said that the facility would greatly add value to the healthcare needs of the people.
He disclosed that the Council has enlisted the support of the Charity Wing of a non-governmental organization, Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saint to provide equipment worth almost N20m to the facility.
He said “This is the remodelled primary health facility undertaken by Uyo Local government Council to add value to the health care needs of our people, especially Ewet Offot axis. The only functional health centre around this place is at Barracks road. There was a big need to meet the needs in furtherance of our desire and resolve to add value to the lives of the people around here.
“One of the key motivating factors is that we have been able to enlist the support of an NGO, Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saint who promised to give us equipment worth almost N20m. They are working on the equipment as we speak and before the close of work today or tomorrow, the equipment will arrive for commissioning on Friday”.
Udo described the facility before the intervention as an eyesore, adding that during the rainy season the entire roof leaks.
According to him during such period, health workers spent a greater deal of their time scooping water to enable them to operate optimally.
“This place was a no-go area, especially during the raining season because everywhere was leaking, once it rains they use buckets to scoop water,” the chairman said.
Corroborating his words, the community health officer in charge of the facility, Mrs. Rose Okon said her spirit was down when she was posted to head the facility because of the rot that had taken over the place.
She said to compound the situation, a coconut tree fell and destroyed one of the rooms, adding that during the rainy season, workers pass through a lot of difficulties.
She said “When I was posted here my spirit was down because of the situation of the place; as if that was not enough, we had a disaster that happened. A coconut tree fell on top of the roof and pull down the roof of one of the rooms. During raining season we passed through a lot. We killed snakes here two times, not to talk of rodents and termites.
She lauded the timely intervention of the chairman which she noted would go a long way to save a lot of lives in the area.
A Youth leader of the community, Comrade Joseph Nyong also commended the timely intervention of the local government area, adding that it was a dream come true for the Community.
“We were only contemplating a re-roof but the chairman who is loving thought it wise to go in-depth to renovate this facility and as you can see this place is not only renovated, this is a transformation, and the people of Ewet Offot will remain grateful to him,” he said. Continue Reading
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