Paradise News

Category: Health

  • Dr. Betta Edu commends President Buhari for appointing a new Primary Health Executive Director

    Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) Director General, Dr. Betta Edu has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing a new Executive Director (ED) for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    President Buhari had earlier this afternoon announced the sack of the heads of five medical agencies and replaced them with new ones which includes Professor Echezona Ezeanolue, a Professor of Paediatrics and Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA who replaces Dr. Ado Mohammed as the ED NPHCDA.

    In this ordeal, Dr. Betta made known in a statement issued in Vienna to congratulate the new ED, Professor Echezona Ezeanolue where she said President Buhari has demonstrated his will to re-position the health care system in the country, especially the primary health system which she says has been made a priority.

    Dr Edu’s statement reads, “We receive with enthusiasm the news of the appointment of the new Executive Director and we congratulate president Buhari for his continuous effort to strengthen PHC (sic) in Nigeria especially with his administration’s policy in health centred on primary health care.

    “However, we must advise our new ED that his job is humongous and for him to succeed he must deliberately carry along his foot soldiers, the head of SPHCDA in all the states as well as other key stakeholders. We must be innovative in the face of tight economic times and our programmes and intervention must remain people centred”.

  • CRSPHCDA Takes Delivery Of 50 Solar Systems To Power 50 PHCs Across The State

    The Dynamic Director General of the Cross River state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu has again through her innovative and strategic governance attracted 50 solar systems to boost primary Health Care in the state.

    While recieving it, Dr. Edu thanked WE CARE SOLAR and PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL for partnering with the government of CRS to improve health care delivery. She noted that at a time when economic situation in the state and country is tight governments  must find more effective and innovative ways of engaging partners and groups to better the lots of their people.

    “This solar systems will ensure that our PHC facilities can enjoy power 24hours. Most of our women deliver at night and sometimes deliveries are taken with lantern in remote areas. This source of power is more reliable and sustainable in the long run and will ensure quality health care delivery.

    Pathfinder International in colaboration with WE CARE SOLAR have provided Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) with 50 highly efficient solar energy systems which will boast maternal services in the Saving Mothers Giving Life PHC centers,  provide medical lighting, mobile communication and essential medical devices.

    According to Dr Yemisi Pius, State Program Manager of Pathfinders, WE CARE SOLAR has done the supply while SMGL of Pathfinder International is handle the installation and training of CRSPHCDA/ PHC facility staff to manage and maintain the solar system.

    The Solar system which contains 4 Led Lights,  Feotal doppler, batteries charger and a mobile phone charging port to enable health workers charge their phone, is to be placed in the labour and delivery room, emergency room and resuscitation room. This will aid timely, safe, appropriate emergency obstetric care and lower maternal and neonatal
    morbidity and mortality in the rural areas.

    The system also provided reliable lighting and power to the operating room and maternity ward.
    Yemisi said pathfinder will continue to partner with Cross River State Government to make sure maternal mortality is defeated in the state.

    Dr Edu futher responded saying that she’s very confident that after the ongoing installations CRS will notice decline in institutional maternal deaths, increase in uptake of maternal services by members of the community who will be confident that the can access quality care at any time of the night, with an increased capacity of PHC workers to admit mothers in labor. She said the Solar from what she has seen is user-friendly and can be easily maintained by frontline health workers which use to be the challange with previous solar systems supplied. She said that CRSPHCDA will be willing to partner with WE CARE solar and pathfinder to ensure more solars are brought in to cover more PHCs in remote villages starting with the 196 PHC/Ward.

    Dr Edu informed Pathfinder of the current strides recorded by the digital State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade and his wife Dr Linda Ayade on reduction of maternal mortality in the state through her pet project “Mediatrix Development Foundation. She assured the organization of government continuous support for fight against  maternal mortality. She further stated the commissioner for health Dr Inyang Asibong, is also doing everything within her strides to revitalise the PHC system which is the focus of the new administration, noting that this partnership will help CRS achieve the one functional PHC per ward long before other state achieve same.

    Check out more photos below…

    As at the time of this report training of PHC workers on solar installation and maintenance was holding at Danic hotel. Also installation had started at some PHC in calabar south and municipality.

    ~Prince Charles 

  • Family Planning The Vaccine For Maternal Mortality – Dr. Betta Edu

    Patience, teenage mother of quadruplets

    Over the weekend, the attention of the Director General of the CRS primary health care development agency Dr. BETTA EDU who was carrying out an intervention at a community in obanliku was drawn to a woman at sacred heart hospital, Obudu who had just been delivered of quadruplet (4 babies– 3 male 1 female). The said woman had two children already before the birth of the quadruplet.

    Dr. Betta Edu checking the quadruplets layer inside and incubator machine

    The compassionate Dr. Betta Edu who is a lover of children was so excited to welcome them into the world. She congratulated the woman for attending her ANC clinics and delivering with a skilled birth attendant in a health facility. ” We are grateful to God for the gift of these beautiful babies. You are indeed our maternal health champion in this community  because you attended all your Ante Natal Clinics, tested for HIV during pregnancy to help us prevent Mother to child transmission of HIV and you delivered at a health facility where complications identified were immediately taken care of to keep you and babies alive. Other women should emulate this”.

    Dr. Betta on her speech to mothers over them accessing PHC regularly

    Betta, siezed the opportunity to advised the woman on the importance of attending a family-planning clinic either at a primary health facility or in the same hospital. She informed her on the various types of family planning and encouraged her to discuss same with her husband as soon as possible.

    The quadruplet inside an incubator machine

    Family planning is the practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilization.

    Nigeria as a nation did not reduce maternal mortality (death of woman during pregnancy, labour, delivery or 42 days after delivery) at the end of Millennium Development Goals in 2015. The deaths rose from 545 deaths per 100, 000 live births to 576 deaths per 100,000 live birth. This high levels of death can be equated to the low uptake of family planning services in our communities. In Cross River State, the uptake of family planning services is as low as 13%.

    “For us as a state to effectively reduce maternal mortality then we must reduce the number of unwanted and unplanned pregnancy. It almost  a vicious cycle, having more children than you can cater for affects the economy and wellbeing of the family. Children are malnourished, easily prone to diseases, more hospital visits less care, their education might even be hampered and the easily resort to evil vices as a survival strategy. More still as the woman continues to have more children there is risk she might lose her life, leaving behind children without motherly love, supervision and direction”.

    Mother of quadruplet talks about family planning after a successful caesarean section

    Family planning still remains a potent vaccine for maternal mortality. For the above mentioned woman, it was a great day as the DG showered her babies with gifts.

    ~Prince Charles, Personal Assistant to CRSPHCDA DG on Media 

  • Donor Partners Hosted For An African Burn-Fire Night By CRSPHCDA At Obudu Mountain Resort (Photos)

    As part of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) multi-year operational plan, MYOP ( 2017-2019), the Agency after exhausting hours on presentation and deliberations over achieving universal health coverage and sustainable integration of PHC services hosted partners and state representatives to an african burn fire night to ease out the cold and relax at obudu cattle ranch.

    Dr Betta Edu, Director General CRSPHCDA while welcoming everyone to the burn fire said “In attendance at this event are partners from different countries and states. As such, we must showcase what the warmest welcome in africa “Cross River” has to offer. It is often said all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and so we have invited everyone hear to savor our cuisines watch the african dance in the moon and drink from locally brewed  gin and palmwine. Take advantage of this night because from tomorrow, they will be no time for leisure as the conference will be tedious with extensions into the night. We hope you all will come back to the state during the Calabar carnival festival in December.  Remember, Tour of the ranch will be on the last day”.

    Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong who was also present at the barbecue said it was really necessary for the visitors to get a test of the state local meals, just as she hope this will motivate the partners and everyone to give out their best during the conference.

    Present at the burn fire night was the Honorable House member representing the good people of Bakassi and House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, the Chairman of Calabar South, Rt. Hon (Mrs). Marjorie Asuquo and her Obanlikwu counterpart, Hon. Ashua. Rep. Of UN, UNFPA WHO, PATHFINDER, CHAI, SFH, CUSO, FHI360, UNAIDS amongst other. State team was also present to party!

    See more photos from the event below…

    By Koko Bassey, Personal Assistant to the Cross River State Commissioner for Health on Media and Publications 

  • Teenage girl gives birth to quadruplets, embraces family planning immediately (Photos)

    A teenage girl of age between 16-25 years known as Patience Abantelhe gave birth to quadruplets at Sacred Heart Hospital, Obudu on Friday 22nd July, 2016. The babies who are 3 boys and 1 girl weighed 1.7, 1.7, 1.2 and 1.3 kilograms respectively and are currently incubated at the hospital and will be the third, fourth, fifth and sixth children of the couple who already have a boy and girl.


    Following the birth of the quadruplets, the teenage mother says she will utilise one family planning method before leaving the hospital in what she says is a step in the right direction.

    Patience also said she’s is done with reproducing for now after giving birth through caesarean section (CS).

    She told Dr. Betta Edu, the DG of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, CRSPHCDA, who came in to visit her and her babies during a press meeting organised by CrossRiverWatch that; 

    “I know about family planning now and I will do it before I leave the hospital, I do not want any other children now”. 

    Dr. Betta took her time to stressed the need for family planning and child spacing describing it as necessary for proper care to be given to children. She also charged Patience to take a break from child bearing.

    The Community Relations Officer to the governor, Emmanuel Akwagiobe also expressed his delight at the news of the birthing of the quadruplets and pledged governments support to the family.

  • Exclusive recipes on how to cook Afang Soup (Photos)

    Preferably, if we didn’t miss anything, Afang Soup is the best delicacy within the Akwa-Cross region and some southern state in Nigeria. The east call it Okazi, but we the Calabarians call it Afang, one of the best soup loved by all.

    Today, we’re going to do a tiny lesson on how to prepare Afang Soup in the best way. Please don’t hesitate, read carefully the guidelines below.

    Read Also | Simple steps and recipes on how to prepare Editan Soup

    Ingredients:

    • 1 kg/21bs assorted meats (oxtail, tripe, ponmo, bokoto and bushmeat)
    • 4 snails (washed with lemon or lime)
    • 450g/1lb stockfish (pre-soaked)
    • 450g/1lb dried fish (washed)
    • 225g/8oz periwinkle (top and tail shell)
    • 225g/8oz whole dry prawns (cleaned)
    • 225g/8oz ground crayfish
    • 225g/8oz ground pepper
    • 1 medium onion
    • 450g/1lb afang leaves (washed, shredded and pounded)
    • 1kg/21bs waterleaf (prepared and washed)
    • 290ml/10fl oz Palm-oil
    • 600ml/1pt stock or water
    • salt to taste

    Read Also| Simple recipes and steps on how to prepare Edikang-Ikong Soup

    Preparations:

    1. Wash the assorted meat thoroughly and place in a pot. 
    2. Add the sliced onions, ground chillies and some stock or water. 
    3. Cook for 30minutes. 
    4. Meanwhile, remove the snails from their shells and wash with lemon or lime juice to remove slime. 
    5. Wash the smoked dry fish with salt and leave soaking in boiling water for 5-8 minutes to kill any insect and loosen any sand or grit. 
    6. Rinse out thoroughly with lots of cold water.
    7. With the blunt end of a knife, top and tail the periwinkles and wash thoroughly. 
    8. Add the prepared ingredients and the stock fish to the pot of meat, continue cooking for additional 10 minutes, adding more stock as required.
    9. Finally, add the pounded Afang leaves, washed waterleaf and crayfish. 
    10. Give it a good stir and bring to the boil. 
    11. Add palm oil, check seasoning and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes until the aroma fills the kitchen and the soup is well blended. 
    12. Remove from heat, dish unto a plate and serve with pounded yam or fufu.
    And that’s it. Tell us what you think at the comment section below… 

  • Gov Ayade Promises To Reduce Maternal Mortality To Insignificant Levels and Achieve Universal Health Coverage In Cross River State

    Executive Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Professor Benedict Ayade assured Cross Riverians of the reduction in Maternal Mortality Rate to insignificant levels at the just concluded maiden Multi-Year Operational Plan (MYOP) at OBUDU Mountain Resorts which carried the theme; CHARTING A NEW COURSE FOR QUALITY PRIMARY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN CRS.

    Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) on the  19th of July at Obudu Ranch Resort Conference Hall began a 7 days multi-year operational plan with the theme, “Charting a new course for quality primary healthcare delivery in Cross River State.

    The Governor of Cross River State Sen. Ben Ayade represented by the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the operational plan meeting for the Primary Health Care (PHC) is very vital to the developmental strides of healthcare in the state. Noting that the state has achieved a lot in Health sector. The Governor noted that the state was amongst the first to begin the implementation of one functional PHC per ward with the renovation and equiping of over five (5) Primary health care centers in the state. His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade equally said medical doctors have been employed to boost the quality of health care delivery in PHC’s. He further stated that the MYOP could not have come at a better time than now especially with the provision of the Save one million lives funding by the federal Government, where revitalisation of primary health care is one of the key requirements from states to continue to access funds.

    He said working with the energetic health team,

    “I am confident that we will be able to reduce maternal mortality to insignificant levels as well as achieve Universal Health coverage in CRS within one year”

    Speaking, the chief host and DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu said there was need for the Agency to draw its blueprint to achieving universal health coverage and sustainable integration by providing a document with 8 thematic areas which includes leadership and governance for health, health service delivery, human resources for health, financing for health, national health management information system, partnership for health, community participation for health and research for health all in support of the” primary health care under one roof policy.

    She said the rigorous exercise that will bring about the multi year operational plan document will amount to almost nothing if the agency tasked with the mandate of coordinating all primary health care activities in the state does not have a target, benchmark and standards of operation as well as an administrative system that ensures the maximum utilization of available resources for maximal performance and productivity. She said the Multi Year operational Plan will be a useful resource mobilisation tool for PHC in the state.

    According to her, the Annual Operational Plan for 2016 is part of the decision of his Excellency, Senator ( Prof) Ben Ayade and His Wife, Dr Linda Ayade who through her Mediatrix Development Foundation has supported the revitalization of PHC’s in the State and has ensured the provision of quality healthcare to the people.

    She poured encomium on the Governor of Cross River State Sen. Ben Ayade for enabling the agency to reach out to comminities that had no access to health care before now. She also appreciated deeply, development partners who in one way or the other have contributed to the successful take-off of the Multi Year Operational Plan.

    Also speaking was the Chairman of Obanliku, Hon. Ashua who welcomed everyone to obanliku LGA assuring them of their security and calling on all to savour the wonder ambience of the Obudu Cattle ranch resort.

    Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Mrs. Marjorie Asuquo the chairman of Calabar South, stated that her LGA’s will continue supporting the delivery of primary health care to her people  because it is the closest sector to the people in the rural areas. She said the Local Government will support the effort of His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade to provide quality healthcare.

    Finally the House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey representing the good people of Bakassi reiterated the support of the legislature to the creation of agency and passing of the amended law for its full repositioning.

    Many developmental partners from UNICEF, USAID, UNFPA, CUSO, WHO, Pathfinders International, FHI360, UNAIDS, INTRAHEALTH, CHAI all shared their presentation and commitment to the development of the MYOP document that will guide PHC operations in the State.

    See more photos from the event below…

    The program went well and ended on the 22nd of July, 2016.

  • What is the best age to start complementary feeding for kids in our community?

    We are tasked with many challenges in the current 21st century; including our lifestyles, feeding and dressing habits, our mode of thinking, doing things, etc. But does our current era better or worse than the previous ones? Most people (women) are yet to know or apply complementary feeding. Just relax as this post will take you through.

    Complementary feeding is the food that is given to children (babies) in addition to breast milk as it contributes to saving lives.

    Most doctors will say, any food given to a child below the age of 6 months is a waste as it contributes to constipation; reasons being that, from day 1 to 6 months, a child is yet to develop strong organs to release the enzymes necessary for food digestion. So, if a solid or semi-solid food is given to a child under the age of 6 months, goes out the same without complete digestion. This in turn will expose the child to risk of constipation (strong stool).

    Some parents on the hand say, exclusive breast feeding causes a child to reject food when he/she grows. The children find it difficult to eat good food as they are used to breast milk and instead, they tend to demand liquid-sweetened foods like mineral drinks, children juices, etc. This is not good for their health.

    Hearing from both the medical doctors and parents, what is the best age to start complementary feeding for children in our community?

    • 2 months
    • 4 months
    • 6 months
    • 8 months

    Please do drop your comments in the comment box below…

    According to a survey conducted by Calabar Reporters, most people prefer starting complementary feeding at the age of 6 months, and 40% of them recommended Community Health Centres as the best place to teach mothers on feeding children.

  • Reintegration of VVF patients with the society is vital to their physical and mental well-being – Dr Asibong

    During the presentation of a treated patient to her family recently at Akpabuyo LGA, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, says, the reintegration of Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF) patients with the society is vital to their physical and mental well-being.

    Recently at the VVF center in the General Hospital, Calabar, Dr. Asibong, in the company of her colleague in the Social Welfare Ministry, explained that, “The purpose of rehabilitation is to restore all of the patient’s physical sensory and mental capabilities that were lost during the period of the illness and the stigmatization”.

    Dr. Asibong while presenting the patient to her family said that, “We have come to reintegrate your sister to your family in line with international best practices, here she is sound, healthy and looking younger than she left you, I assure you that the vesico vaginal fistula has been repaired”.

    The patient lauded the state government for the care and treatment and called on those suffering similar health challenge to avail themselves the opportunity created by government to benefit from the free VVF treatment sponsored by the state government.

    Also, a family member of the reintegrated patient and youth leader in the community, Efefiom Ededem who was visibly elated at the sight of his sister back home and well, promised to report cases of VVF anywhere in the state to the government.

  • Check Out Exclusive Photos From The Clean Calabar Project 2016 (#CleanUpCalabarProject)

    On Thursday 21st July, 2016 was tagged #CleanUpCalabarProject. The project which is meant for volunteers to show up to clean the city of Calabar, at Watt Market was filled with fun as many youths from different groups turned up to fulfil the dream.

    Although, there was a little bit of rain, but that didn’t stop what was destined to be. For the project went smoothly without any difficulties as NYSC FRSC Club kept the traffic going while Hit FM 95.9 Calabar gave their usual entertainment. Although face mask and other materials where provided by the Cross River State Primary Health Development Agency.

    Groups, societies, organisations, companies, present at the cleaning up were EIS Recyclers, HitFM Calabar, Greencode Nigeria, Red Cross Society, Edem ChildrenFoundation, Church of Later Day Saint, Calabar Reporters, among others.

    Check out photos from the event below…

    Photo Credit: Development Options (DO)

    Health is wealth! When the state is clean, Health is promoted.