CROSS RIVER STATE (CRS) HAS MADE MORE PROGRESS IN BRINGING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE (PHC) UNDER ONE ROOF THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN NIGERIA IN THE LAST ONE YEAR – NPHCDA
During the just concluded EU-SIGN/National Primary Health Care Development Agency second Bi annual review meeting in Abuja, the Governor of Cross River State and the entire health team in the state were showered praises by NPHCDA for being the state with the highest progress in Primary Health care UOR in the last one year. From their Assesment in 2014 -2015, the state was as low as 15% in primary health care under one roof but as evident by the assessment graph for 2015 – 2016, Cross River State is at the verge of Hitting the 100% mark.
The new Executive Director of NPHCDA Prof. Echezona Ezeanolue who was represented by Dr Mahmud Director Logistics and health coordination said “Cross River state in the last one year has given their state Primary Health Care Development Agency(SPHCDA) a legislative backing with the Governor Sen. Ben Ayade accenting to the bill, the SPHCDA has been fully implemented, with a budget and the state is in the process of moving the PHC workers to the agency. No other state has been able to achieve such feat in one year. We must commend the Governor Sen. Ben Ayade, the Commissioner for Health Dr Asibong and the very Dynamic and proactive Director General Dr Betta Edu for this speed of light progress.
Futhermore, the one PHC per ward policy has made more progress in CRS than any other state in Nigeria. As at the last count, CRS is the only state that has completed 4 PHC in 4 wards following this new policy. In one of those occasion, the wife of the president was there to commission it in person.” He called on other state to show similar commitment to strengthening Primary Health Care as that is the only way Nigeria can achive SDG 3 and Universal Health Coverage.
Dr Aminatu the Acting Head of EUSign Nigeria said Cross River as well as a few other states remain a viable ground for development partners as investment in health in this states produce great results. She noted that EUSIGN will continue to support states to improve their immunisation coverage by providing Cold chain equipments like Direct Solar Refrigerators, repairing broken down cold chain equipment, building cold stores for states, providing vehicle for immunisation as well as providing imperest for immunisation logistic officers. She however encouraged Cross River to officially do their EUSIGN flag off in the state as the are one of the few states left.
In her remarks, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Betta Edu thanked the NPHCDA for all the commendations showered on CRS proactive Digital Governor Sen. Ben Ayade and the health team. She noted that very huge investments have been made by the state to improve the quality of health care delivery to the people. She futher said more can be done if the federal government and development partners give more support to cross River State. The Governor of Cross River State wishes to achieve the one PHC per ward in 2 years, hit an immunisation coverage of 100% and reduce maternal mortality by 15% in next 2 yrs. This is very achievable if we all work together. She thanked EU-sign for their efforts and pleaded that the cold store be completed at the shortest possible time.
Dr Ikpeme State technical Assistant EU sign made the presentation for CRS highlighting our sucesses and challanges, urging EUSign and NPHCDA to do more. The review which lasted for 2 days had in attendance all the Heads of Primary Health Care Development agencies from the various states, staff from NPHCDA and Federal Ministry of Health as well as other partners involved in immunisation in Nigeria.
