By Frank Ulom
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has criticised Governor Bassey Otu over what it described as the worsening condition of the state’s health sector, calling for urgent intervention to prevent a total collapse of healthcare services.
The state PDP Chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem, made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking with journalists on the state of public health facilities across Cross River.
Ikem alleged that General Hospitals in Calabar and Akamkpa, which he described as the only functional public hospitals in the state, are operating under poor conditions with unstable electricity supply.
He said the situation has forced medical personnel to rely on petrol provided by patients’ relatives or use phone torch lights during surgical procedures, describing it as a serious threat to patient safety.
“The health sector in Cross River is in a shambolic condition and requires urgent intervention. It is unacceptable that surgeries are being carried out with the aid of phone torch lights because there is no electricity in some General Hospitals,” Ikem said.
The PDP chairman further alleged that the state currently has only 99 nurses and fewer than 20 doctors in government employment across public health facilities.
He warned that the shortage of medical personnel has severely weakened healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities where access to medical services remains limited.
“Nurses and doctors are leaving the state service due to poor remuneration and terrible working environment. The few health workers left are overstretched and cannot adequately meet the healthcare needs of the people,” he stated.
Ikem also raised concerns over the shortage of trained midwives, noting that many pregnant women have been left with no option but to patronise Traditional Birth Attendants, a situation he said has contributed to avoidable maternal deaths.
He called for urgent legislation to regulate the activities of Traditional Birth Attendants and establish proper referral systems between them and certified medical professionals.
“There is no proper law regulating the activities of Traditional Birth Attendants in the state. Government must put measures in place to ensure collaboration and referral protocols between TBAs and trained medical personnel in order to safeguard pregnant women,” he added.
The PDP chairman also expressed concern over the health situation in Odukpani Local Government Area, the governor’s home council, alleging that only two nurses are currently deployed to a health facility in the area.
Ikem further alleged that nursing schools in the state are yet to secure accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, a development he said is worsening manpower shortages in the sector.
“The nursing colleges in the state are still awaiting accreditation from the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council. This is affecting training capacity and worsening the manpower shortage in the health sector,” he said.
He also criticised the Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, accusing him of focusing on minor projects instead of addressing critical challenges in the sector.
“The Commissioner for Health is busy inspecting the construction of soak-away facilities in General Hospitals and making headlines out of it instead of raising serious concerns about the absence of modern medical equipment and shortage of manpower in the sector,” Ikem alleged.
Ikem also questioned the utilisation of funds allocated to the health sector, insisting that most visible interventions were being driven by donor agencies rather than government investment.
He urged the state government to prioritise recruitment of medical personnel, rehabilitation of health facilities, and provision of essential infrastructure, including electricity and modern equipment, to restore confidence in the healthcare system.
He warned that continued neglect of the sector could further worsen health outcomes for residents across the state.
Converseer reports that the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has urged the state government to conduct a massive employment of nurses.
The State Chairman of NANNM, Comr. Josephine Bassey, who made the plea, also requested that hospitals be rehabilitated to create a conducive environment for health workers.
Meanwhile, Dr Coco-Bassey Esu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, said the current administration has injected 200 nurses into the workforce, many of whom have received their appointment letters, despite inheriting a shortage of staff.
Dr Esu stated that approval has been given by the State Executive Council to rehabilitate several hospitals including the one in Odukpani, Akpabuyo, IDH Calabar, Ikom, Obudu and Bekwarra.
