By RismadarVoice Media
December 10, 2025
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 formally declared open a 10-day Cholera Sample Management and Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) training for 350 health workers across the state.
The programme, which runs from December 9 to 18, 2025, is being held at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Conference Hall, Atan Offot, and is aimed at strengthening Akwa Ibom’s preparedness and response capacity against cholera outbreaks.
Participants were drawn from Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts.
In his remarks, Dr. John commended the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), national facilitators, and the State Epidemiology Unit of the Directorate of Public Health Services for their continuous support to public health initiatives.
He noted that recent cholera outbreaks in the state were swiftly contained with zero fatalities, attributing the success to the vigilance and professionalism of health workers.
The Commissioner urged the trainees to maximize the opportunity, reminding them of the medical profession’s ethical demands: integrity, compassion, and diligence, especially in life-saving situations.
He congratulated them for being selected, encouraged them to serve as ambassadors of best practices in disease surveillance, early reporting, and case management.
Beyond the technical aspects of the training, Dr. John encouraged facilitators and visitors to explore Akwa Ibom’s serene environment, describing the state as an emerging leisure and tourism destination.
He referenced potential visits to signature attractions such as Arise Park Resort, popularly called the 8th Wonder of the World, and the Akwa Ibom Golf Resort.
He expressed gratitude to the Executive Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, for his transformative leadership, declaration of a State of Emergency in the health sector, stating that the governor’s reforms were already improving infrastructure, service delivery, and overall health outcomes. Dr. John paid glowing tribute to the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Nchiek Eneh, describing her as humble, dedicated, and exemplary.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Public Health Services, Dr. Etop Antia, described the training as timely and crucial for bolstering epidemic preparedness.
He noted that Akwa Ibom’s recent success in containing cholera without casualties reflects the efficiency of its surveillant system and the commitment of frontline workers.
In goodwill messages, the WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Alawole Oluwa Bukola, and an NCDC representative, Mr. Jubril Kareem, commended the state for its proactive leadership in managing public health emergencies.
They reaffirmed WHO and NCDC’s commitment to supporting the state in surveillance, laboratory networking, data analysis, and rapid response operations.
The training is being conducted simultaneously across the three senatorial districts and is expected to significantly boost the state’s capacity for early detection, prompt response, and prevention of future cholera outbreaks.
