Monday Okpebholo has cleared the medical expenses of victims injured in a fire incident in Ekpoma, including a pregnant woman and her husband receiving treatment for severe burns. The intervention also covered several other patients admitted across different wards. The payments were made during an official visit to the hospital.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele. The statement said the governor visited the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital to assess the condition of victims and provide immediate support.
Speaking after the visit, the governor said the pregnant woman had initially sought financial help for her husband’s treatment following the fire incident. Medical personnel attending to her later discovered she was due for delivery and arranged her urgent admission.
Doctors subsequently carried out a cesarean section, leading to the safe birth of her baby. The governor said the state government agreed with the hospital management to settle the family’s outstanding bills to ensure uninterrupted treatment.
He added that the payment arrangement was extended to other patients encountered during the visit, removing financial barriers to their care. According to him, the intervention would allow affected patients to continue receiving medical attention without delay.
The governor expressed hope that those undergoing treatment, including patients in intensive care, would recover soon. He noted that the action reflects the administration’s commitment to assisting residents facing medical emergencies and financial hardship.
Beneficiaries and their relatives welcomed the gesture, describing it as timely support amid rising healthcare costs.
