CMD seeks FG’s aid as rainstorm wreaks havoc at UUTH

Medical services have been partially disrupted at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, following torrential rain, which destroyed buildings, medical and electricity infrastructures in the hospital, on Tuesday.

Although no life was lost, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Etete Peters, who briefed journalists on the matter, said the damage ran into millions of naira.

The first rain of the year, which started at about 5: Pm and lasted for several hours, destroyed roofs and uprooted trees and other infrastructures in the hospital.

The affected facilities include the pediatric ward, medical ward, mortuary, incinerator building, School of Health Information Management and the 200 meters perimeter fence that caved in during the rain.

The CMD, who conducted reporters and other management officials of the hospital on assessment tour also, identified the House Officers’ quarters, laundry block, hospital chapel, radiography block and the medical students’ lecture room, as other facilities affected.

Besides, electricity infrastructure damaged during the rainstorm led to disruption of medical services in some wards.

Calling on the Federal Government, the State government and other interventionist agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other well meaning Nigerians to assist, Etete lamented that the hospital had no capacity to fix such problem.

“The damage done is beyond the capacity of the hospital, and that is why we are calling on the Federal Government, State and other interventionist agencies to come to the aid of the hospital so that we can resume full services”, the CMD stressed.

“We were battling to complete some ongoing building facilities and now, here we are, trying to repair the existing ones”, he added.