N41bn Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital: A Monument of Waste

The Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, commissioned in 2015 with international fanfare, has become a symbol of waste and inefficiency. Despite its N41 billion price tag, the hospital is plagued by non-functional equipment, abandoned wards, poor working conditions, and crumbling infrastructure.

Key Issues:

• Non-Functional Equipment: The hospital’s ICU ventilators, oxygen plant, and Cath Lab are not working, making it difficult to provide critical care to patients.
• Abandoned Projects: Only two floors of the hospital are in use, while the remaining levels, including the main ICU and administrative block, are incomplete or abandoned.
• Poor Staff Welfare: The hospital is understaffed, with only nine medical doctors, and poor working conditions, leading to burnout and demotivation.
• Infrastructure Challenges: The hospital’s elevators frequently malfunction, trapping occupants inside, and the pneumatic tube system is no longer functional.

Patient Experience:
Patients and their relatives have reported difficulties in accessing essential medical services, including oxygen supply. In some cases, patients’ relatives are forced to buy oxygen from external suppliers, leading to critical shortages and preventable deaths.

Government Response:
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, has acknowledged the hospital’s problems, attributing them to issues that predate the current administration. The government has promised to revamp the hospital, with plans to procure new medical equipment, including a CT scanner.