Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, was yesterday, Tuesday, August 25, 2926, honoured by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, just as the Body of Heads of Nursing Services Department and Principals of Schools in Federal Health Institutions, BOHNAPFHI, simultaneously presented the governor a separate award, on the same day.
The two awards were however based on the governor’s achievements in the health sector.
While NANNM conferred on the hardworking governor the award of the most Nurse-Friendly Governor for his “outstanding leadership, exceptional commitment and deliberate investment in strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce; BOHNAPFHI said the governor who has probably lost count of the awards he has won in the last three years, deserves their award for his “exemplary leadership, visionary contributions and unwavering commitment to the development of healthcare services and infrastructure through the ARISE Agenda.
Receiving the awards during the courtesy visit by the two organisations, Governor Eno said he regarded the awards as the recognition of the collective efforts of the people of Akwa Ibom State, particularly members of his Administration who have contributed enormously for the development of the State.
“Each time I receive an award like this, I normally hand it over to the people of Akwa Ibom and everyone who has cooperated with the Administration to interpret our vision in different areas”, Governor Eno said.
According to him, the welfare of the people is the essence of governance, with health as a critical component.
“If the people are not healthy, no matter the skyscrapers you build, there will be nobody to enjoy it”.
He said his Administration will continue to do its best to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
Governor Eno highlighted the growth of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme, describing it as one of the fastest-growing health insurance agencies in the country.
He said the state is also considering measures to bring elderly citizens into the insurance scheme to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
According to him, expanding health insurance coverage would make healthcare more accessible and affordable for residents, particularly the vulnerable demography.
The governor also highlighted the important role experienced nurses and midwives play in the healthcare delivery value chain, noting that their years of professional knowledge and practical experience were invaluable to younger medical doctors. For this reason he said the State hopes to explore the possibility of retaining the expertise of retired nurses and other experienced healthcare professionals, to strengthen healthcare delivery services.
“Some of those experienced nurses and midwives command tremendous respect, and even young doctors rely on them to explain actual work procedures. Making use of their experience is to our advantage,” he said.
Earlier, the delegation of NANNM led by Ndaji Alhassan, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, said the delegation was in the state to appreciate Governor Eno for his “gigantic” contributions to the development of healthcare. On their part, the National Chairman of BOHNAPFHI, Dr. Mrs. Jenny Akpan, commended the governor for the Ibom Medical City project, model primary healthcare centres and other health infrastructure initiatives of the Administration.
The delegations included the National Financial Secretary of NANMN, Comrade Dr. Ojong Ofut Ogar, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of NANNM, Comrade Nsikan Udoh, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, Professor Emem Abasi Bassey; the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, UUTH, Professor Eyo Ekpe@, among others.
