Cross River State is performing exceptionally well in Primary Health Care – New Executive Director of NPHCDA

State (CRS), Senator Professor Ben Ayade was last week applauded for performing above board in Primary Health Care. The newly appointed Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Prof. Echezina Ezeanolue made this remarks during the one day advocacy meeting organised for all Commissioners and Heads of Primary Health Care agencies in Nigeria. “At this time where the country is going through recession, Government spending on health is dwindling as such we must find new innovative was to get the job done. Our people deserve quality health care, our people need Universal health Coverage. Am glad Cross River state is proactively working towards that. I am happy to finally meet Dr. Betta Edu the DG of Primary Health Care in CRS. You are doing a great job keep at it. We will send a letter to your Governor, thanking him for what he is doing while we advocate that he does more especially by providing support for the next Maternal New Born And Child Health Week.

Also speaking was the acting ED Dr Emmanuel ODO who said the reason for the meeting was to advocate to Government to take up the sponsorship of MNCHweek. He said the MNCHWeek provides a package of care which includes neonatal care, vitamin A supplementation immunisation, deworming, nutrition screening, exclusive breast feeding, distribution of mosquito nets, antenatal care, Family planning, birth registration, health education, handwashing, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AID amongs others.

” this intetventions are very important to our women and children. Except Governments commit to it, our people will suffer. he adviced states to work with the wifes of their Governors who will be advocates and help champion mother and child health issues in the state.

Presentations was also made by the Dr Kana SOML Program director From the federal ministry of Health on the “saving one million lives grant”. DR kana in his presentation said the 1.5 million dollars to be released soon was for the strengthening of Primary Health care system and the achievement of 6 pillars which states will be scored on. He noted that SPHCDAs are the hub of implementation. Stating that states which do not meet the bench mark will not qualify to recieve the grant next year. “It is a performance based grants. We must see results. As such health team members in the various states should work together to ensure the achive the target or the lose out completely next year.

The DG Dr. Betta Edu in her remarks, thanked the new ED for his commendation. Promising to take the message to her Governor and CFH. She went further to recount all the achievement Primary health care in CRS has attained in the last 9 months. Noting that the Governor of CRS is committed to doing more as he believes in meeting the health care needs of his people. She further noted that most of their achievements can be linked to the advocacy role played by the wife of the Governor Dr. Linda Ayade. Dr. Edu promised that CRS will hold the MNCHWeek. High point of the meeting was advocay to states to support the forth coming MNCHWeek in their states.

The commissioner for health CRS Dr Inyang Asibong who was unavoidable absent was represented by Mrs Lucy form SMOH. Other dignitaries from federal ministry of Health, Dr Dogara, Directors from FMOH, Directors from National primary Health care Development Agency, partners Representative like Dr. Joseph Monehin from USAID, Reps from Clinton Health Acess initiative, Unicef, UNAIDS, UNFPA etc were present at that meeting in abuja.