From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Cross River has promised to explore all available options to effectively utilise the Obudu-German Specialist Hospital.
Speaking during recent familiarisation visit to the ultramodern hospital in Obudu,the commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk said the present administration led by Governor Bassey Otu, knows the importance of continuity in governance by strengthening critical sectors of the state which would automatically make the Obudu-German Specialist Hospital a haven for medical tourism in Nigeria and sub-sahara Africa.
He said: “If this hospital must fly, then structures must be put in place to sustain it.
“We are talking about medical tourism, people must fly in here. So the dream for the Obudu Cargo Airport was well intended.
“That airport must be completed so that this medical wonder can meet its expectation. The roads leading to the hospital from Calabar to Obudu must be revitalised.
“The Ranch Resort must also be working so that tourists, who troop in can visit the hospital for their health needs while continuing with the adventures. These are the basic necessities for the Obudu-German hospital to thrive,” Dr Ayuk pointed out.
Ayuk lauded the efforts of the hospital management in brokering collaboration with other Organisations, particularly Zipline in the distribution of drugs to hard to reach areas, enjoining them to improve upon their internal revenue base by exploring consultancy services of specialists from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH) whom, on rotation, would offer services, and upscale services in almost every area of the hospital.
He also enjoined them to broaden its public relations activities to ensure community engagement and awareness on the services rendered by the hospital and the benefits of seeking medical assistance at the hospital.
Speaking, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Obudu-German Specialist Hospital, Dr. Seun Faturoti, said the well-equipped 140-bed medical centre is arguably the best in Nigeria.
He said that the facility which has been operational and open to all since its commissioning, boasts of an MRI Scan, CT Scan, Modular Operating Theatres, Robotic Pharmacy, General, Deluxe and Suite Rooms, Admission Dialysis and Endoscopy Unit, Emergency, Intensive Care Unit, X-ray machines among other ultramodern equipment, with over 3000 medical investigations since its inception.
Faturoti called on Cross Rivererians and indeed Nigerians to take advantage of the ultramodern hospital for their health needs, as the Obudu-German Hospital is the one-stop shop for medical services and health needs.