UYO-The Akwa Ibom State Government has settled the N3 million bill for the surgery of 15-month-old Esther Edet at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

Esther, who was said to have been set ablaze by her mother, has her hands and parts of her head burnt.

Presenting the cheque to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom condemned the act of the mother.

The governor recalled that two children died recently when they were dumped in a pit latrine by their father. He also condemned child trafficking, describing it as barbaric and inhuman.

The governor, who expressed happiness over the running of the hospital, said that government had released N60 million for the completion of the hospital’s Pediatric Unit.

Responding, Ekanem commended the governor for the kind gesture to the toddler.

He gave the assurance that the hospital had adequate facilities and personnel to carry out the rehabilitative surgery on the child.

Ekanem also said that the hospital’s Dialysis Centre had treated 107 persons for kidney-related ailments.