By: Our Reporter,, Calabar
Hope is rising for students of the University of Cross River State injured in a recent auto crash, following the decision of Governor Bassey Otu to take over the full cost of their medical treatment.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, made the disclosure, during a visit to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where many of the victims are receiving care.
Ayuk said the governor had directed immediate intervention to relieve the affected students and their families of the financial burden, stressing that the government considers the victims a priority.
“We are here on the directive of His Excellency to ensure that the burden of managing these students is taken over by the government. They are our own, and we owe them that responsibility,” he said.
He explained that beyond financial support, the state government is working closely with hospital authorities to ensure the students receive the best possible care, with the ultimate goal of seeing them recover quickly and return to their academic pursuits.
The visit included an assessment of the patients’ condition and engagement with hospital management on areas requiring further intervention.
Ayuk expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far, noting that many of the students had shown significant improvement.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, who was part of the visiting delegation, commended the hospital for its swift response and quality of care, describing the treatment outcomes as encouraging.
He appealed to students and youths to remain calm and supportive, emphasizing the need to protect public infrastructure.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. We are trying to improve our health facilities, and destroying them is not the way to go. We must work together to strengthen what we have,” he said.
He further revealed that several of the injured students had already been discharged, while those still on admission were responding well to treatment.
Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UCTH, Dr. Innocent Abang, said the hospital mobilised quickly upon receiving the victims, including coordinating with other facilities to stabilise them.
“Our commitment is to ensure that these students recover fully and are discharged in good condition,” he stated.
On behalf of the students, the President of the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS), UNICROSS Chapter, Joshua Betebeke, expressed appreciation to the state government and healthcare workers for their timely intervention.
He noted that the visible improvement in the condition of many of the victims had restored confidence among students, adding that there is growing optimism that their colleagues will soon return to school.
Betebeke also expressed regret over the damage to public property during protests that followed the incident, explaining that the actions were driven by grief.
“It was never our intention to vandalise government property. We appreciate the support shown to our colleagues and remain committed to working with government going forward,” he said.
