“Healing with Dignity: Governor Umo Eno’s Bold Healthcare Revolution in Akwa Ibom”

By Mfoniso usoro

In Akwa Ibom State today, healthcare is no longer just a policy priority it is a living, breathing revolution. Under the visionary leadership of Governor Umo Eno, the state is rewriting its healthcare narrative, transforming hospitals and clinics into centres of hope, dignity, and modern medical excellence.

From the outset of his administration, Governor Eno declared a state of emergency in the health sector. This wasn’t political rhetoric it was a decisive move that unlocked investments in infrastructure, personnel, and systems. The result? A healthcare delivery model that is both accessible and people centred, reaching communities that had long been underserved.

Infrastructure That Speaks Progress

– Mother & Child Specialist Hospital, Oko Ita: A 100-bed facility now stands as a beacon of maternal and pediatric care, reducing infant and maternal mortality rates.

– Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs): Built across all 31 local government areas, these centres ensure rural dwellers enjoy the same quality of care as urban residents.

Upgraded General Hospitals: Accident and emergency units, maternity wards, and laboratories in Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Abak, Oron, and Itu now meet modern standards.

– Specialized Care Expansion: Haemodialysis centres and advanced diagnostic services mean patients no longer need to travel far for critical treatment.

Governor Eno’s reforms are not just about buildings they are about confidence. Citizens now walk into government hospitals expecting professional, timely, and dignified care. This trust is reinforced by strict regulation of private hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies, ensuring quackery and substandard practices are stamped out.

Partnerships That Scale Impact

Akwa Ibom’s healthcare transformation is strengthened by collaborations with organizations like Rotary International, which support maternal health, child survival, and immunization programs. The Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA) has also emerged as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing, expanding affordable coverage to vulnerable populations.

At the heart of this progress is the synergy between Governor Umo Eno and Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, Commissioner for Health. Together, they have translated the ARISE Agenda into tangible results policies that don’t just exist on paper but touch lives daily.

Also Governor Eno’s healthcare revolution is about more than infrastructure it’s about placing human lives at the centre of governance. Akwa Ibom is proving that when leadership is compassionate and strategic, healthcare becomes not just a service, but a right.

Akwa Ibom’s story today is one of hope and resilience. With every new hospital bed, every trained health worker, and every regulated facility, the state is building a future where healthcare is not a privilege, but a promise.

This is not just governance it is healing with dignity.