Health Commissioner Strengthens Campaign Against Intrusion On Gov't Health Facilities, Institutions
By Ebi COLLINS
Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk is carrying out statewide stakeholder engagements to heighten the drive against encroachment into government health facilities and institutions.
In the series of engagements, the Commissioner, Sunday, visited the Paramount Ruler of Obudu local government area, His Royal Majesty, Utsu Felix Okudare, and intimated him about the unwholesome practices that are inhibiting state government's effort towards the development Obudu and its people.
Dr. Ayuk narrated the unfortunate development where portions of government land have been sold out to individuals and churches, with the intruders muting ideas to build petrol a station and church respectively, while other individuals had already built on other portions of the property.
Wondering how a petrol station would exist directly in front of General Hospital Obudu, the Health Commissioner warned authorities giving out land meant for public facilities that government would resist any scheme working at cross-purposes to the lofty visions of the present administration.
He also brought to the Royal Father's knowledge, the ongoing wranglings concerning a portion of land allocated by the community to the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Obudu, for its expansion as criteria for accreditation, saying individuals have been fighting to take a chunk of the property.
Accompanied on the visit by the Community Relations Officer of Obudu, Mr. Godwin Orim, the health boss appealed to the Paramount Ruler to use his office to repeal such underhand dealings, while urging the people of Obudu to rather concern themselves with safeguarding government facilities meant for the development of their areas.
In his response, the Paramount Ruler of Obudu local government area, His Royal Majesty, Utsu Felix Okudare, warned those responsible for such disgraceful acts to desist forthwith and not take the good intentions of government for granted.
The Traditional Ruler assured the state government of his traditional institution's preparedness to evict every land interloper no matter how highly placed, noting that the General Hospital and College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, both in Obudu, are overriding interests of the people, and must not be greeted by such meddlesomeness.
He assured that with the necessary official correspondence to his office, swift action will be taken to rid government land of every intruder, no matter their placement in the society.
Similarly, the Commissioner also engaged the traditional rulers and youths and other community leaders in Obudu Urban to intimate them of government's uncompromising position regarding the land for General Hospital and College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Obudu.
