By Sonnie Okem
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, Ph.D., alongside the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Christopher Agbeh, has commissioned the 12-bed Kamgba Memorial Hospital at Idum, Mbube, in Ogoja Local Government Area, describing the facility as a major contribution to quality healthcare delivery in the state.
Represented at the ceremony by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security and Agricultural Development, Chief Emmanuel Anoh, the Deputy Governor commended the founder, Chief Dr. Joseph Odu Kamgba, for his visionary investment in the health sector, noting that the hospital complements the government’s efforts to provide accessible and quality healthcare services to the people.
He said the establishment of the facility would ease the burden on government in the provision of essential social services while expanding access to quality healthcare, particularly for residents of rural communities. He described the project as a remarkable act of philanthropy that would reduce the cost and stress associated with travelling to urban centres for medical care.
The Deputy Governor urged the management of the hospital to maintain high standards of professionalism, diligence, and compassionate service in delivering quality healthcare to the people.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Christopher Agbeh, praised Chief Dr. Kamgba for his exemplary leadership, patriotism, and commitment to community development. He described the hospital as a practical response to the question, “What can you do for your government?” stressing that sustainable development is best achieved when citizens partner with government to improve the welfare of society.
Chief Agbeh reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to quality healthcare, recalling that upon assumption of office, the council engaged medical doctors who provided free medical services across health facilities in the local government area. He pledged the council’s readiness to partner with Kamgba Memorial Hospital to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare for the people.
Earlier, the founder of the hospital, Chief Dr. Joseph Odu Kamgba, said the vision behind the project was inspired by his determination to reduce preventable deaths in his community. He disclosed that the hospital took seven years to complete at a cost running into billions of naira and is equipped with modern medical facilities, including male and female wards, a standard diagnostic laboratory, and other essential equipment to provide comprehensive healthcare services.
Also speaking, retired Commissioner of Police Gabriel Omara-Achong and Comrade Abang Anoh commended Chief Dr. Kamgba for his foresight, generosity, and unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery. They described the hospital as a landmark achievement that would significantly reduce the burden on rural residents who previously travelled long distances in search of medical care.
The commissioning ceremony attracted traditional rulers, political leaders, government officials, health professionals, community leaders, and residents, all of whom applauded Chief Dr. Kamgba’s philanthropic gesture and described the hospital as a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare services in Ogoja Local Government Area.