Five months old fetus can survive in Ibom Specialist Hospital – Mgt

By Abasifreke Effiong

AKWA IBOM – The Ibom Specialist hospital will write a record-breaking story in obstetrics and gynaecology when it is able to tend its first 20 weeks fetus to full maturity.

New management of the hospital says it has the expertise and facility to tend a 20 weeker.

The hospital has about 10 functional incubators within its pediatrics unit.

Management of the facility says Ibom Specialist Hospital is well positioned with equipment and personnel to render world-class services in ante-natal care when it starts maternity services later this week.

Taking old boys of Saint Francis College, Eket and journalists on a tour of facilities in the hospital, the Director of Clinical Services and Training Dr. Udeme Ekrikpo, said the medical team in the hospital has the expertise to tend a-20 weeker.

“Pre-mature 20 weeker can make it here with our state-of- the-art incubators.”
A-20 weeker is a five months old fetus. A pregnancy is naturally 40 weeks old.

Ekrikpo said the maternity unit of the hospital set up by the new management led by Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem is fixed to attend to high-risk pregnancies, with the aim to reducing maternal and child mortality.

The hospital’s maternity unit has the full complement of cardiotocograph.

This reporter observed that each of the four maternity suites in the hospital has a cardiotocograph.

Cardiotocograph is commonly known as Electronic Fetal Monitor (EFM). It is an ultrasound transducer used to monitor heart rate of a fetus and uterine contractions during labour.

In 2018, the World Health Organisation strongly recommended routine antenatal cadiotocography for pregnant women to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes.

With this machine in its facility, the Ibom Specialist Hospital places higher than other hospitals around here, to prevent risk of complications and elongated labour during child birth.

However, the hospital says it needs a blood bank to kick-start maternity services this week.

Ibom Specialist Hospital, which is owned by the Akwa Ibom State government had grappled with poor and inefficient management since it opened in 2015.

Twice, the hospital was shut-down before a new management was appointed in June this year.

Activities have started picking up in the hospital since the new management led by Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem, took over.

The hospital is ready to start neurosurgical services, the CMD, Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem said.

“We are ready to start neurosurgical services. We have brought in an American trained neurosurgeon and an Indian trained interventional cardiologist.”

The new management says it has everything required to put the facility on the go.
“I will have no excuse before God, the governor and Akwa Ibom people not to turn things for good in this hospital. The governor has approved everything I need to restart this place.”

The dialysis unit in the hospital is fully working. This unit opened for services four weeks after the new management took over.

Barely few months after the new management began operations, the hospital has about 30 kidney transplantation patients it is following up.

The new management of the hospital says it has tremendously improved its accident and emergency services.

“We have the most rapid emergency response services. Our emergency response time is 30 minutes within Uyo. We have two ambulances fully equipped with 24/7 oxygen and personnel. So, we can attend to an emergency case in our ambulances before arriving the hospital.”

“We also have a 10 bedded emergency room. Each bed has its monitor and oxygen.”

The hospital boasts of having a 640 slice CT scan and the chemistry equipment.
The chemistry machine in the hospital runs 108 samples and gives result in 10 minutes.
The CMD says his management team is working to reposition the hospital to deliver top brass healthcare services.

“We are working on opening new services. We have brought in the best personnel in the areas we are rendering services.”

“We have reviewed our charges to make our services affordable and accessible.”
“Of course, work culture is very important and we have the best work culture that can compete anywhere in the world.”

There is significant improvement in the hospital under the new management, Mr. Sam Uko, District Governor of Rotary Club 9142, noted.

“Coming [here] to see what’s happening compared to what used to happen, we can confidently tell people, this is the place to go. The management seems to be on focus, so we are sure its a good place to be.”

Uko, who is the President of Saint Francis College old boys association and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, said with the new management, Ibom Specialist Hospital will save lives.

“It is clear that the foresight of the hospital was great. The next phase of it was to have a competent personnel to manage the hospital and that seems to be in place now. We are comfortable with the management as it is today. We know Prof. Ekanem to be an achiever and a dedicated specialist. We are sure that from what we have seen, this place will save a lot of lives,” Uko added.