By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR 

For years, residents of Northern Cross River battling kidney failure have faced an agonising choice: endure the pain of their illness at home, or risk gruelling journeys to Makurdi, Abakaliki or Calabar in search of the dialysis treatment that keeps them alive. That painful chapter is now coming to an end.

Governor Bassey Edet Otu has approved funding for the completion of a kidney dialysis centre at the General Hospital, Ogoja, bringing life-saving renal care to the doorstep of a community that has long carried the burden of medical migration.

Announcing the development on Friday in Calabar, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, said the intervention reflects the governor’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services across the state.

Dr. Ayuk explained that the decision was informed by the rising incidence of kidney failure and the absence of a functional dialysis referral centre in the northern part of the state.

He noted that patients requiring renal dialysis often undertake difficult and costly journeys to medical facilities in Makurdi, Abakaliki and Calabar, exposing them to additional physical, emotional and financial hardship while seeking life-saving care.

For families in Ogoja, that hardship has meant more than money — it has meant time lost, strength drained, and in some cases, lives cut short before help could be reached. 

The approval of funds, Dr. Ayuk said, will change that story.

According to the commissioner, the governor has approved the release of funds to commence and complete the outstanding civil works required for the installation of dialysis equipment at the proposed Kidney Centre in General Hospital, Ogoja.

He described the intervention as a strategic investment in the health sector that will substantially reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the district while improving survival outcomes for people living with kidney disease.

Dr. Ayuk expressed appreciation to Governor Otu for prioritising the health needs of Cross River residents, describing the approval as another demonstration of the administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering people-centred healthcare under its development agenda.

He assured that the Ministry of Health would ensure the prompt and transparent utilization of the approved funds to facilitate the timely completion of the project and the commencement of dialysis services.

When completed, the centre will do more than treat illness — it will restore dignity to patients who once had to leave their homes, their families and their communities behind just to stay alive. 

It is expected to serve as a major referral hub for renal care in Northern Cross River, bringing specialist treatment closer to thousands of residents and easing the financial burden of seeking care in neighbouring states.

For Ogoja, the message is simple: help is finally coming home.