The State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has expressed serious dismay over the apparent poor handling and management of Mission Schools and Hospitals which were handed over to their proprietors by the State Government and has expressed government's intention to rescind the decision in the public interest.

The Governor's reaction followed his unscheduled visit to Ituk Mbang Methodist Hospital where he observed that the institution which was overgrown with weeds had dilapidated structures. The Chief Executive expressed shock that an institution meant to provide care and good health to the people could be left unattended to, by the management.

Chief Akpabio said the State government was ready to take back the hospitals for a complete turn around in order to provide a congenial environment for the members of the community to enjoy good medical attention. Noting that such act of mismanagement was a disservice to the people, the governor directed that a comprehensive data of the Mission Hospitals and their operators be forwarded to him.

Chief Akpabio who was conducted round the wards in the hospital by the Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Mercy Ekpo, accompanied by the Chairman, Uruan Local Government Area, Dr. Eventus Edem, sympathized with the plight of the patients to whom, he gave financial assistance for the settlement of their medical bills.

Mrs. Ekpo told the governor that the hospital lacked constant water supply, generating plant and even a good medical store and appealed for government's assistance.

The Permanent Secretary, Governor's Office, Mr. Etekamba Umoren was in the Governor's entourage on the occasion.

Commenting on Mission Schools, Governor Akpabio regretted that though the government did not set a standard for the proprietors on the management of the educational and health institutions, most of them could not live up to government's genuine intention in this regard.

The State Chief Executive pledged to hold a meeting with the original owners with a view to ascertaining standards for strict compliance, stressing that the government would revert the decision on the handing over against any erring mission owner.

Chief Akpabio remarked that government was paying salaries to most of the staff and wondered what necessitated the clamour for handing over of the institutions to their owners whereas most of them are not properly managed by them.