Immanuel Hospital Eket, Akwa Ibom State

From the the left Mrs, Owo, Prince Uduak, and Matron Mrs. Effiok.

On the 9th October, 2013 I visited Immanuel Hospital in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, to mark my Birthday with the company of John Mbong. With so much gratitude to God for the gift of life and good health I take with me toiletries e.g. Tissue papers and soaps. On arriving at the Hospital we were directed to see the Matrons at the hospital (Mrs. Owo and Mrs. Effiok) we had a little chat at the administrative office and they showed their appreciation towards what we have given, we then ask the areas that the hospital or patients majorly need assistance, that NGO’s can be of help since the government may not be able to shoulder all the responsibilities alone. We were told that the hospital is in need of a lot of help and assistance. We were told that the need varies from ward to ward. We were then given a tour by Mrs. Owo from the hospital administrative department and Matron Mrs. Effiok to the various wards in the Hospital starting from the children ward and we talk with the nurse in charge of the ward who told us that the children wards is basically in need of Bed Sheets and also thank us for the toiletries we have provided which is one of the basic need of the ward. We move to the Men ward the nurse in charge also appreciate our gift and told us that the major challenge the ward face with is the TB (tuberculosis) testing machine which is not available in the hospital, she complain that they send patients to private hospitals for TB test which is expensive for many of the patients, she explained that many of the patients send to private hospital for test never return and many who can’t avoid the test resigned to their faith and to make the situation worst the tuberculosis drugs, like so many other drugs are not always available in the Hospital, so the free treatment that the patient are suppose to enjoy from the hospital are not free in a real sense, because the patients buy the drugs if they must be treated. She also told us that many HIV patient on her care come to the hospital after the disease have eating deep into their body, she explained that HIV need to be tackled at the earlier stage and not when the case have gone out of hand. We move to the Male Surgical ward the nurse in charge also appreciate us and told us that the ward majorly handle accident cases, She told us that the problem they are facing with the patients are not good, she explain that most of the accident patients are always without a person to take responsibility of them and the ward end up using medicine bought by other patients to treat them just to make sure they regain consciousness but at times when this drugs are not available it become a helpless case. We went over to the female ward the nurse welcome and appreciate my gift and added on her speech to us that the hospital is short of staff especially the female ward, she said that the government have promise time without number to give them more staff since so many old staff are retiring, she explained that the hospital have a nursing school associating with it but the government prefer to train the student for the private hospitals instead of employing them to do the work. We went over to the Maternity ward the nurse in charge welcome us and lay it plain that there is no Sucker/Vacuum Extractor Machine in the hospital and the ward felt it is a most for a maternity ward in an hospital to have these machines, she also explained that the ward is out of Bed sheets and Beds since the Beds they have is breaking down on daily basis. And finally we visited the anti natal ward and once again were welcome and appreciated by the nurse but she also explained that the ward needs more space and chairs for the patients who visit on daily basis in hundreds.
After the tour we visited the office of the hospital Secretary who appreciate us on behave of the entire hospital and also wave us goodbye.
Let you and I try and meet the material needs of those in the hospital bed in appreciation for God’s love In our life, you are not stronger than so many of them but the grace of God is available to you, please appreciate God by helping someone. But in case you are too busy to do it yourself please contact me on 08062858243 or princeuk@live.com I am willing to take up the task.

By Prince Uduak Pedro