Senator Akpabio built the hospital while he was in office and it was hurriedly commissioned before he left office in May last year, while some major civil, mechanical and electrical works were still ongoing. Last year, the hospital became a subject of controversy after Senator Akpabio, now senate minority leader, travelled to the UK for medical attention after a car accident.
Critics asked why he did not use the multi-billion naira facility his administration promoted as being of world class standard. However, Senator Akpabio later said the hospital’s take-off was delayed because foreign doctors billed to work there had not been cleared by the Nigerian Immigration Service to travel into the country.
Eventually, the hospital officially commenced operations in November 2015, six months after it was commissioned. Yesterday, Senator Akpabio arrived at the hospital at about 12.45pm, accompanied by his former physician, Iniobong Essien, who is now the Akwa Ibom State commissioner for the environment.
He was received by the hospital management who were excited that the man who conceived and built the facility was visiting it for check-up. Senator Akpabio’s personal physician, Carter Onyeoziri, who was also there to assist him, said the senate minority leader went through a routine general check-up.
Dr Onyeoziri added that it was Senator Akpabio’s first medical check-up in Nigeria since he was discharged from a hospital in London after the car accident in Abuja. According to Dr Onyeoziri, the senator deliberately chose to patronise the Akwa Ibom hospital, instead of travelling abroad for his medical needs.
“You know as at the time he had the road accident, the doctors who were supposed to work in Ibom Specialist Hospital were still working on their employment and immigration papers. Now that the doctors are fully on ground, he decided to make use of the Ibom Specialist Hospital,” Dr Onyeoziri added.
According to Dr Onyeoziri, the former Akwa Ibom governor was seen by a cardiologist and from there he went over to the radiology section for scan and x-ray. He was said to have spent about two hours in the hospital.
Dr Onyeoziri said: “After the check-up, he was given a clean bill of health. He will be due for another check-up between four to six months.”
He added that Senator Akpabio’s medical check-up was also meant to show Nigerians that the place is fully functional and that Nigerians do not need to travel outside the country for medical purposes. According to Dr Onyeoziri, the cardiologist that attended to the former governor has worked in six continents across the world.
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