By Patrick Obia
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State council has paid a familiarization courtesy visit to the management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The Union while briefing the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme called for a good cordial relationship between the Union and the hospital management.
The Chairman of Cross River State Council of NUJ, Mr. Gill Nsa, in company with his excos and members, while applauding the giant stride going on in the hospital, said it is pertinent to pay the visit because the facility is one of the key institutions to synergize with.
Gill noted that the visit is an opportunity to get so many facts right about the hospital which many are quick to put in a bad light.
“I want to let you know that the new leadership of NUJ Cross River State is desirous to have a good and better working relationship with the management of UCTH, we want to straighten the relationship we have had with the management.
“We intend to ensure that as our members get to ply their trade, they do that in a healthy environment. This opportunity is a great one that we want to use to get the right information because a lot of information is there in the public about one thing or the other about the UCTH. We want you to use this opportunity to straighten the facts and put them right.”
Facially and verbally expressing gratitude to the NUJ for the visit, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme said the last couple of years have witnessed massive improvement in the hospital.
He said: “We will try to provide the facilities, personnel, and the environment to ensure we are serving and saving patients. That has been the focus of what we have done in the last few years; investing in the infrastructure upgrade, creating an aesthetically appealing environment, getting more equipment and key personnel as well as dealing with the attitude of our staff so that when patients come in he or she will not undergo a whole lot of experience.”
The UCTH boss while assuring the Union of the management’s support, partnership and collaboration enjoined the press to always fact-check stories especially from the UCTH before disseminating, adding that they are open to advice and constructive criticism for perfection.
“I assure you that we will work, cooperate and partner with you because if we do what we are doing and our people do not know what we are doing, then there is no way. Complex brain surgery and spinal instrumentation are no longer done outside, they are done here. You journalists are the ones to tell our story. I can assure you we are here for you, for the public; to serve our people and executive the federal government’s mandate, that there is affordable health care for the generality of the public,” he said with enthusiasm.
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