A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Akwa Ibom State Government and Clinotech Group from Canada for the management of the Ibom Specialist Hospital by the Company.
Clinotech Group, Canada is the only solution partner to the Federal Ministry of Health with the mandate to build hospitals of international standards in each of the geo-political zones and manage them.
Speaking during the event at Government House Uyo, Governor Udom Emmanuel congratulated the Company for emerging successful in the bidding process noting that serious criteria were put in place by Government to ascertain the best among the bidders.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem explained that, “technical capacity, hospital management experience and competencies as well as financial implications were considered when the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong and his team assessed the entries and capacity of bidders.”
Governor Emmanuel reminded the Clinotech Group that they did not arrive at the position of the new managers of Ibom Specialist Hospital out of sentiment or skewed process and encouraged them to be ready to work and meet the objectives of the huge medical facility.
The Governor explained that he pays a great deal of attention to health care delivery because all his drives in the area of Industrialization, Agriculture, Education, Political and economic inclusion, infrastructural development, poverty alleviation, wealth creation and job creation will not yield the desired dividends without a healthy population of Akwa Ibomites.
He stated that the state needed healthy men and women to put their hands, as patriotic citizens, on the plough to move the frontiers of economic development and public goodwill forward.
The Commissioner for health, Dr Dominic Ukpong described the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and Clinotech Group of Canada as a red letter day for the Ministry of Health noting that the build up to the formal signing of the agreement was very painstaking.
The Commissioner congratulated the Canadian Consortium for taking over the management of Ibom Specialist Hospital and reminded the new team that the state expects a lot from them bearing in mind that to whom much is given, much is expected.
In the words of Dr Ukpong who earlier recalled the unpleasant experience with the last managers, “the agreement has ensured that we will be together to make it succeed. We do not have any reason to fail.”
The Commissioner went down memory lane and told the investors that the foundation of the hospital was laid in September 25, 2007 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the state creation while the inauguration was in May 2015.
He explained that the objective was to offer highly specialized medical services to members of the public, reduce morbidity and mortality through prevention and treatment of cases that are beyond the capabilities of secondary and tertiary health care systems.
Dr Ukpong noted that Nigerians spend billions of dollars on medical treatment outside the country and asserted that Clinotech Group has the capacity to use the well equipped Ibom Specialist Hospital to reverse the trend.
He highlighted potentials in other sectors of the state economy especially in medical tourism and encouraged the new team to take advantage and secure meaningful return on investment.
In his remark, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Clinotech Group, Harrison Ofiyai said they were attracted to Akwa Ibom State to work especially on professional basis and promised to manage the facility professionally and profitably.
He pledged to collaborate with the engineering team, contractors and others to bring about speed and other desired results.
According to Dr Ofiyai, “we will do all our very best within the shortest possible time. We had also thought that we will resume work given short time frame to deal with certain segments of the hospital, moving forward.
He stated the need to fix power as the facilities in the hospital cannot run twenty-four-seven without having constant power supply.
The investors appreciated the state for the peace being witnessed, and hoped that it would continue in that manner as law and order is important for them in their efforts to uphold best practices.
The Signing of the agreement was witnessed by a representative of the Health Minister, Dr Rosemary Bola Olowu, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for finance, Mr Linus Nkan, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Due Process and Technical Matters, Mr Ufot Ebong, Chairman, State Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investments, Mr Gabriel Ukpe, Chief Medical Director of Turkish hospital, Abuja, Dr Mustafa Ahen, Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching hospital, Dr Isaac Assam Duo, Banks’ executives and other Investors.
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