By Esseh Ikora, Uyo
The Chairman,House Committee on Appropriations and Finance, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Usoro Akpanusoh, has ordered the management of Cardio Medical Services (CMS)the consultant handling Ibom Specialist Hospital to appear before his committee to answer questions relating to the theft of hospital equipment worth over N400 Million.
Akpanusoh gave the order Monday when he led members of the committee on a fact finding visit to the hospital in uyo.
The state commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, while conducting the committee members round the facility told the committee that the consultant -Cardio Medical Services (CMS), had terminated their contract with the state government and shut down the hospital.
He disclosed that the entire facility was locked by the consultant CMS. The electrical power supply was also shut down damaging most of facility in the hospital.
The committee chairman, expressed displeasure over the state of brazen abandonment of the facility by the consultant, Cadio Medical Services (CMS), without cogent reasons.
He directed the health commissioner to appear before the house committee alongside the consultant with all legal documents and memorandum of understanding reached between the state government and the consultant to enable the State assembly take a positive stand on the matter.
Akpanusoh said “the House Committee decided to carry out an on the spot fact findings mission to ascertain the truth about the sudden closure of the hospital by Cardio Medical Services ( CMS), because the House can not appropriate funds for a ministry or facility that is not functioning”.
The lawmaker said the essence of allocating funds for the ministry in the 2018 propose budget is meant for the running of the hospital and to hasten it’s completion by fixing all required medical facilities and equipment needed.
“We are witnesses of the extent of job done here and we will be going back to give our report for further recommendations to the House of Assembly”. He said.
He demanded for copies of memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the agreement reached with the consultant.
In his words,” with what we as a committee have seen here, we are inviting (CMC) to appear before the assembly for explanations to enable the House understand reasons they absconded and abandoned the project as well as to determine if they are willing to continue doing business with the Akwa Ibom state government.”
Akpanusoh expressed displeasure in the conduct and manner the consultant absconded without proper handling over and inventory documentations, described the act as unacceptable to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“This facility is the tax payers money of Akwa Ibomite,and we cannot watch with negligence this manner of irresponsibility from the handlers of this world class medical specialist facility which required standard maintenance” he added.
He thanked the State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel for his commitment and passionate in resuscitating the Hospital.
He said acknowledged that, though we can say there is a progressive skeletal medical activities; But, let me appeal once again to the health commissioner, Dr. Dominic Ukpong to fast track the processes of engaging qualified and capable interested consultants to bringing back the hospital to live.
He assured that the Ibom specialist hospital would be resuscitated adding that the state assembly will not compromise in it’s reports on the abandoned facility with expensive medical equipments carted away without proper documentation and inventory.
Dr Ini Etukukoh, head medical services commended the assembly men and appreciated their effort towards the resuscitation of the medical facility.
