The Special Adviser on Public Utilities to the Governor of Cross River State, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe, KSM, today 15th Day of October 2025 embarked on a statewide assessment tour to evaluate the condition of public utilities at the General Hospital, Calabar, located along Mary Slessor Avenue.
Dr. Egbe, who was accompanied by his colleague, Pastor Bright Ewona, the Special Adviser on Wealth Creation and Job Placement, alongside his technical team, conducted an on-the-spot inspection of critical infrastructure within the hospital.
During the tour, the team met with Dr. Takim Kenneth, the Superintendent of the hospital; Mr. Ekpo Asuquo, Head of Laboratory Services; and Mr. Eteng Ettah, the Hospital Administrator. The officials took the delegation around key sections of the facility, noting areas requiring urgent attention.
In his remarks, Dr. Takim Kenneth commended the visit and appealed through the Special Adviser for urgent government intervention to upgrade the hospital’s infrastructure.
He further drew attention to the persistent flooding challenge facing the facility due to surface runoff from the nearby University of Calabar (UNICAL) gate, which threatens the hospital’s fence and structural integrity.
Responding, Engr. Egbe expressed concern over the poor lighting system, lack of running water, dilapidated floors, and roof leakages, particularly within the Tuberculosis Laboratory.
He stated that these deficiencies could significantly impede effective medical service delivery, especially during night operations, and risk damaging sensitive diagnostic equipment procured by the state government.
He also observed office congestion within the laboratory, which has forced many laboratory scientists to work in unsuitable spaces, describing the situation as “unbefitting of a medical institution of such importance.”
Engr. Egbe reaffirmed the commitment of the Cross River State Government under the leadership of Governor Sen. (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, to improve the health sector and strengthen public utility systems across the state.
He added that Governor Otu’s administration has demonstrated its dedication to the health sector through initiatives such as the establishment of the State Health Insurance Scheme and the recent distribution of coaster buses to school of nursing across the state.
Special Adviser concluded that, “The government remains resolute in recalibrating and upgrading all our general hospitals. The ongoing turnaround maintenance of existing facilities will ensure that essential public utilities function optimally for effective healthcare delivery.”
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