The Cross River State Ministry of Health has described as “misleading, inflammatory, and unfounded” social media claims regarding the government’s emergency response to the recent tragic auto accident involving students and staff of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
The accident, which occurred at Odukpani, claimed the lives of three students and one staff member. In a statement signed by the Senior Information Officer, Kingsley Agim, the Ministry clarified that the emergency response was swift, coordinated, and prioritized the lives of the survivors.
Addressing allegations of negligence, the Ministry stated that medical personnel at the General Hospital Calabar were mobilized immediately upon the arrival of victims. Due to the severity of the trauma, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) made the professional decision to transfer critically injured victims to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), a tertiary facility equipped for complex cases.
READ ALSO: PDP declares Otu’s seat vacant over poor performance
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, and the Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey, have since visited the survivors across various facilities. To ensure continued care, the Commissioner facilitated the transfer of stabilized patients back to General Hospital Calabar for ongoing treatment.
The Ministry emphasized a crucial detail to counter online rumors: all recorded fatalities occurred at the scene of the crash.
“No lives were lost due to delayed or inadequate medical attention at any health facility,” the statement read. It further noted that survivors, including a female victim with bilateral leg fractures, are receiving specialized care at UCTH’s Orthopaedic Unit.
Responding to critics who questioned the delay in official communication, the Ministry explained that in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, life-saving interventions take precedence over media engagement.
The Ministry noted that the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has already issued an official statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, which stands as the definitive government position on the tragedy.
The statement cautioned the public against the spread of unverified information that could incite public distrust or demoralize healthcare workers.
“While constructive criticism is a vital part of democratic engagement, deliberate distortion of facts, especially during moments of tragedy, raises serious ethical concerns,” the Ministry stated, urging citizens to disregard sensational claims being propagated for social media relevance.
The State Government reaffirmed its commitment to providing quality medical responses and supporting the families of the deceased and the injured survivors during this period of mourning.
