By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has rewarded four volunteer health workers at Akpet Cottage Hospital with automatic employment in recognition of their years of dedicated service and sacrifice in sustaining healthcare delivery in Akpet Central, Biase Local Government Area.
The approval was announced by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, during an inspection tour of the hospital, where he commended the beneficiaries for their resilience and unwavering commitment to serving the community despite working for years without formal government appointments.
Dr. Ayuk was received by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Boniface Udoh. During the visit, the commissioner inspected facilities at the hospital and applauded the Akpet Central community for its commitment to supporting healthcare delivery.
The commissioner recalled that the hospital was originally established through community efforts before it was adopted by the Cross River State Government and upgraded from a Primary Health Care Centre to a Cottage Hospital.
He said the decision to employ the volunteers reflected the Governor Bassey Edet Otu-led administration’s commitment to recognising excellence, rewarding sacrifice and strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce.
“Let me assure the Akpet Central community that the four names that have been submitted to me will be taken directly for the approval of His Excellency.
“The sacrifices made by this community in deploying its sons and daughters to sustain this hospital will not go unrewarded,” the commissioner said.
The beneficiaries are Ada Ukam, Esu Ukweni Abo, Blessing Umera and Florence Ahong.
To facilitate their formal appointment, Dr. Ayuk directed the hospital management to compile comprehensive records of the beneficiaries, including their academic qualifications, years of graduation and length of service, for onward submission to the Cross River State Civil Service Commission.
He reiterated that the state government would continue to invest in human resources for health, describing frontline health workers as indispensable to the delivery of quality and accessible healthcare services across the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms. Blessing Umera expressed profound appreciation to Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and the Commissioner for Health for the life-changing gesture.
She described the employment as the fulfilment of years of dedicated and selfless service, pledging that the beneficiaries would reciprocate the confidence reposed in them through greater commitment, professionalism and compassionate service to the people.
“We have served with dedication because we believed in caring for our people. This opportunity has given us renewed hope and motivation to do even more. We are sincerely grateful to the Cross River State Government for recognising our sacrifices,” she said.
