The Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State has issued a scathing assessment of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, describing the state’s healthcare system as being in a shambolic condition. During a press briefing on Wednesday in Calabar, the state PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, warned that public health services are on the verge of a total collapse if immediate intervention is not prioritized.
The situation in major public facilities has reached a crisis point. Ikem alleged that the General Hospitals in Calabar and Akamkpa, which remain the primary options for many residents, are currently crippled by consistent power outages. The lack of electricity has reportedly led to harrowing scenes where surgeons are forced to rely on petrol generators provided by patients’ relatives or even the torchlights from mobile phones to perform life-saving operations.
The manpower shortage is equally alarming. The PDP chairman claimed that the state currently employs fewer than 20 doctors and only 99 nurses across its entire public health network. He noted that a mass exodus of medical professionals is underway, driven by poor remuneration and deteriorating working environments. This shortage has particularly affected maternal care, as an acute lack of midwives is pushing pregnant women toward unregulated Traditional Birth Attendants, a trend that Ikem believes is contributing to an increase in maternal mortality.
Ikem also pointed out a staggering lack of resources in Odukpani, the governor’s own local government area, which he claims is serviced by only two nurses. Furthermore, he criticized the state’s nursing colleges for failing to secure accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, a situation that effectively stalls the training of new professionals. He further questioned the priorities of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, suggesting that administrative focus has been misplaced while critical equipment and staffing needs remain unaddressed.
In a swift reaction to these allegations, the state government defended its record. Dr. Coco-Bassey Esu, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, stated that the current administration inherited a depleted workforce but has already moved to inject 200 new nurses into the system. According to Esu, many of these health workers have already received their appointment letters and are being integrated into various facilities.
The government also disclosed that the State Executive Council has approved a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for several hospitals across the state, including those in Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Ikom, Obudu, and Bekwarra. While the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has joined the call for massive recruitment and better working conditions, the state authorities maintain that the groundwork for a revitalized healthcare sector is already being laid.
