A central pillar of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda is a massive overhaul of the healthcare landscape in Akwa Ibom State.
From rural primary centres to high-tech specialized units, the administration is betting big on medical infrastructure.
AIT.Live gathered that the transformative reform, policies and projects of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE agenda are visible and redefining healthcare delivery for the people.
The focus has shifted toward a people-first model—prioritizing access, quality, and lightning-fast emergency response.
At the heart of this shift is the ARISECare Health Insurance Scheme. Currently, it provides a safety net for over 170,000 residents—including civil servants and the vulnerable—with a roadmap to reach the state’s farthest rural corners.
On the ground, infrastructure is catching up. General Hospitals in Ukanafun and Nsit Ubium have received major facelifts, while a new wave of Model Primary Health Centres is bringing modern medicine to the grassroots.
Minutes matter in a crisis. That’s why the state has deployed a fleet of 31 ambulance-clinic vehicles under a new 24-hour Emergency Medical Service system.
But buildings and equipment need brains. To bridge the manpower gap, the government has already recruited 3,000 health workers, with 2,000 more expected to join the ranks soon.
The fight against disease is also getting a tech boost. Free X-ray services are ramping up tuberculosis detection, while a new Medical Oxygen Production Plant ensures that no facility in the state ever runs out of life-saving air.
Specialized care is no longer a distant dream. A new hemodialysis unit at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital is already saving lives, with plans to scale up kidney care statewide.
Looking ahead, the government is eyeing Medical Tourism. The crown jewel of this vision is the Ibom International Hospital—a 350-bed facility designed to turn Akwa Ibom into a premier healthcare destination for West Africa.
From the village clinic to the urban specialist centre, the government insists the goal for a healthier, stronger Akwa Ibom remains an urgent objective
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
