BY KINGSLEY AGIM
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. RoseMary Archibong has stated that the state-of-the-art facilities in Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar would boost the Governor Ben Ayade administration's policy thrust on healthcare for the overall good of Cross Riverians and Nigerians in general.
Mrs. Archibong made this assertion when she paid a familiarization visit to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital recently in Calabar.
While on an inspection tour of the Hospital, led by the Commander, Surgeon Rear Admiral Abubakar Haruna Yusuf, the Information and Orientation Commissioner noted that the Hospital is replete with state-of-the-art facilities, qualified personnel and a conducive health environment that meet international standard and best practices. She added that these should avail the citizenry the opportunity to seek solutions to their health challenges in Nigeria rather than travel abroad.
She further pointed out that the ultra-modern digital equipment in the Radiology, Dental, Laboratories, Intensive Care Units, Ophthalmology Departments, among others will ensure accurate, timely and cost-saving diagnosis, emphasizing that the availability of a Helipad in the hospital complex would facilitate safe and prompt transport of emergency patients.
She thanked the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and the Federal Government for ensuring the completion of such a gigantic medical complex that was started since 1979.
The Commissioner also thanked Rear Admiral Yusuf and the Hospital Management for their warm reception, urging them to sustain the high standards that she saw, and promised to convey their goodwill messages to the Governor.
She further charged the hospital management to also engage its personnel in training and re-training in order to enhance sustainability of healthcare delivery and expand the frontiers in medical advancement.
Mrs. Archibong reminded the Hospital Management of the high premium the Governor Ben Ayade administration places on healthcare, which has given birth to the establishment of the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company (CALAPHARM), the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (AYADECARE) and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency to take healthcare delivery to the door steps of the citizenry, assuring that the present administration will remain supportive partners in ensuring that the Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital continues to thrive.
In his remarks, the Hospital Commander, Rear Admiral Abubakar Haruna Yusuf, welcomed the Commissioner and her team and expressed utmost delight in the visit, noting that as the number one information officer of the State, the gesture will help inform the public of the workings of the hospital.
The Commander informed the Commissioner that hospital personnel have been sent severally on overseas training on the operations and maintenance of the various equipment and assured the continuous training and re-training.
Rear Admiral Yusuf also thanked Governor Ben Ayade for the security and waste management services extended to the Hospital, but appealed for attention to be directed to a more effective medical waste management in the State.
He used the opportunity to inform residents of the State that though the Navy Clinic at Moore Road will continue to maintain medical presence for a while, activities have fully commenced at the Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital at Murtala Muhammed Highway, Calabar.
Highpoints of the visit featured exchange of gifts by the Commissioner and the Hospital Commander.
