Cross River Partners Lions Club to Launch Dialysis Services in Ogoja
By Ebi COLLINS
The Cross River State Government has unveiled plans to establish a kidney dialysis unit at the General Hospital, Ogoja, in a strategic move to strengthen specialized healthcare services in the northern region of the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this during a weekend inspection of the hospital’s Diabetes Management Centre, which was donated by Lions Club International. The visit aimed to assess the current state and utilization of the facility.
Dr. Ayuk, who was accompanied by former Lions Club District Governor, Lion Lynda Odu, lauded the organization for its impactful contribution to the fight against non-communicable diseases. However, he expressed concern that the centre was not being used to its full capacity.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery, the Commissioner pledged to deepen collaboration with the Lions Club to enhance the effectiveness of the facility.
“We are open to expanding this partnership to ensure the centre is fully optimized and delivers quality care to the people,” Dr. Ayuk stated.
He also assured Lion Lynda that the government would act promptly on the request for support in setting up the dialysis unit and provide a detailed plan for the next phase of implementation.
During the facility tour, Lion Lynda revealed that arrangements had been concluded for the installation of dialysis machines, but noted that the project hinged on the government completing renovation work in the designated section of the hospital.
The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Patrick Ugbe, expressed the hospital’s readiness to assume full responsibility for the centre. He confirmed that its services would be fully integrated into the hospital’s operations and pledged close collaboration with the State Ministry of Health to fast-track the necessary renovations.
The initiative is expected to ease the burden on kidney patients in northern Cross River, many of whom currently travel long distances to access dialysis services.
