The Cross River State Government has announced plans to establish a fully operational kidney dialysis unit at the General Hospital, Ogoja, as part of ongoing efforts to improve specialized healthcare services in the northern part of the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, made the disclosure after a working visit to the hospital over the weekend to evaluate the functionality of the Diabetes Management Centre donated by Lions Club International.
Accompanied by a past District Governor of the Lions Club, Lion Lynda Odu, Dr. Ayuk commended the Club for the generous donation, noting its significance in the management of non-communicable diseases. However, he expressed concern that the facility was not being fully optimized to serve its intended purpose.
While reaffirming the state’s commitment to healthcare development, the Commissioner pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Lions Club to enhance service delivery at the centre. “We are willing to explore more areas of cooperation with the Lions Club to ensure the facility meets its full potential,” he stated.
Dr. Ayuk assured Lion Lynda that the state government would act swiftly on the request to support the planned kidney dialysis services and would provide a comprehensive report on the next steps.
During the visit, Lion Lynda led the Commissioner on a tour of the facility and revealed that plans had been finalized to install a kidney dialysis unit within the centre. However, she noted that the installation was dependent on the government completing renovations on the designated section for the dialysis equipment.
Also speaking, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Patrick Ugbe, assured both the Commissioner and the Lions Club representative of the hospital’s readiness to take full ownership of the facility. He confirmed that the management would integrate its services into routine hospital operations and work closely with the State Ministry of Health to fast-track the required renovations for the dialysis unit.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the burden on patients in northern Cross River who currently travel long distances for kidney care.
