Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, has placed renal healthcare at the centre of his administration’s health agenda with the approval of funding for the completion of a dialysis centre at the General Hospital, Ogoja.
The decision, according to the governor, was driven by the need to ease the burden on patients who travel long distances to seek medical help and subsequent treatment.
“It has become imperative to not only improve access to healthcare, but bridge a critical gap in renal healthcare through life-saving dialysis services for citizens, especially those residing in the northern senatorial district of the state,” Otu reasoned.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, disclosed the approval in Calabar, saying it demonstrates the governor’s focus on equitable healthcare delivery.
“The intervention reflects Otu’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services across the state,” the commissioner said.
Ayuk stated that the move was informed by the rising incidence of kidney failure and the absence of a functional dialysis referral centre in northern Cross River. At present, patients from the zone are forced to seek care in Makurdi, Abakaliki and Calabar which is a long distance to where they reside.
“The governor has approved the release of funds to commence and complete the outstanding civil works required for the installation of dialysis equipment at the proposed Kidney Centre in General Hospital, Ogoja,” Ayuk stated.
He added that the long journeys have subjected patients to avoidable physical, emotional and financial hardship.
Ayuk described the project as a strategic investment that will reduce referrals outside the district and improve survival rates for people living with kidney disease.
He lauded the state governor for prioritising the health needs of Cross River residents, noting that the approval remains “an additional scorecard of the administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering people-centred healthcare under its development agenda.”
