Admin|4 April 2016|6:10am
The Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Mrs. Betta Edu and some management staffs of the agency paid an advocacy visit to the Obong of Calabar last week, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, Treaty king, Natural Ruler, Grand Patriarch of the Efik Kingdom and Defender of Christian Faith Worldwide in his palace in Calabar.
Dr Edu in her remarks lamented the high level of marginalization of the Efik Kingship at the National level, stressing that the Obong of Calabar was the first monarch to be acknowledged internationally. She noted that Obong of Calabar is in the same category with Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano and Oba of Benin and deserves to have his voice heard in Nigeria as it will go along way to shape policies.
The DG thanked the Obong for proactive measures taken in the past, advocating for better primary healthcare services and utilisation of health services in the state. She intimated his eminence of the immunization exercises conducted through the agency in the state which according to her is aimed at immunizing every child in Cross River State against vaccines preventable diseases urging the royal father to support the state government under the dynamic leadership of Senator. Prof. Ben Ayade to achieve unprecedented feats. She pleaded with the Obong to lend his voice to the call to stop maternal mortality in the state, noting that if young women continue to die at this rate, then we will end up with a generation of youths lacking motherly love and direction.
She also informed him of the high prevalence of TBA's/prayer houses in Southern Cross River State that have refused to refer pregnant women with complications to health facilities calling for his intervention in the matter.
Finally, she assured His Eminence of Government readiness to tackle primary health care challenges in the state by separating politics from health. She promised to make sure the portrait of the Obong immunizing a child against vaccines prevented diseases is display in the entrance of the agency both at state and national as part of advocacy for immunisation by the king of Calabar.
Also speaking was Otuekong (Sir) Francis Asuquo Edet who commended the effort of the state Governor Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade for proactive measures taken so far to revamp the ailing primary health care system in the state. He lauded the Governor on appointing the DG which according to him is very young and sound with technicality to salvage low PHC's system in the state.
His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, responded by showering his royal blessings to the DG and Sen.Prof. Ben Ayade over their resolved to provide quality health care to the people, noting that health is wealth and public health is very vital to the state. He pleaded for change of attitude by government and health workers which has been a major set back in PHC's system in the state and the country at large.
This according to him will be achieved through strict monitoring of PHC's across the state for cohesiveness and efficiency in the system and also by checkmating the activities of TBA's and prayer houses in the state.
His Eminence pledged to assist the government tackle maternal mortality and vandalization of primary health facilities across Efik clans by calling for awareness and community participation/ ownership.
Finally. he advised the DG not to politicise health as it is being practiced in most society.
Highlights of the visit was presentation of Mosquito treated insecticide nets to the Etubom Traditional Council by the agency and immunization of a child by his eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, Treaty king, Natural Ruler, Grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom and Defender of Christian Faith Worldwide.
Charles Ekanem
Media & Publicity Aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
