Paradise News

Category: Health

  • CR-MOI TO PARTNER CR EYE CENTRE

    By: David  Ejishie, MOI Officer reporting for Min. of Info & Orientation

    Cross River State Ministry of Information and Orientation has expressed readiness to partner Cross River State Eye Care Programme in providing adequate eye care support services to residents in the State.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Comrade Asu Okang, who revealed this while receiving in audience in his office in Calabar, a medical team from the State Eye Care Programme Calabar, assured that the Ministry will utilize the services of its parastatals to give the project wide and adequate publicity.

    ‘Eye care is not seen as an important aspect of healthcare, many do not take care of their eyes. This has resulted to a rise in cases of glacauma, cateract and other eye defects and thus creating a medical void that has led many to the verge of blindness’, said Comrade Okang.

    He noted that the outreach is a laudable project that should be embraced by all well meaning Cross Riverians and individuals, adding that there is a need to educate people on the need to take care of their eyes like every other part of their body to reduce the increasing cases of blindness due to eye disese that could be managed if discovered on time.

    Comrade Okang commended the Management of the State Eye Care Programmeme for their selfless service to humanity, which he said is evident in the over 41,000 surgeries done and thousands of free glases given in the last twelve years.

    The Information and Orientation Boss assured the team that the programme will be hugely publicized, given the on-going rebranding and re-equipping of the Ministry’s  publicity outlets in line with the new Information order in the State.

    He explained that with the rebranding of Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation to “CRBC Plus,’’  the soon to be launched New Nigerian Chronicle Online News Application, the newly installed Digital Printing Machine at the Government Printing Press, amongst others; the State Ministry of Information and Orientation is better placed to assist the programme drivers in realizing their mandate in the State.

    Earlier, the Team Leader and Co-ordinator of the State Eye Care Programme, Dr. Stephen Agbor stated that the State Government is taking eye care services closer to the people with the setting up of Vision Centres in Ugep, Calabar, Ogoja, Yala and Obanliku Local Government areas, adding that the programme has been in existence in the State for over twenty years now.

    He intimated that the Eye Care Programme which has helped to eliminate quacks from eye care services in the State, will be intensified in 2020, targeting rural communuities and the poor.

  • Cross River State Unveils Health Policies And Plans

  • CRSMIDC, UNFPA, UNICEF unite against Female Genital Mutilation in Cross River

    Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is every procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. Rooted in gender inequality, the practice attempts to control women’s sexuality, purity, modesty and beauty with reckless abandon.
    With gender equality being one of the items on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal list, the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of International Development/ Global Donor Cooperation in partnership with the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA), yesterday commemorated the campaign to end FGM in Nigeria.
    According to the MIDC Commissioner, Dr. Inyang Asibong, “in Nigeria, women aged between 15-49yrs (24.8%) have undergone some sort of FGM, and are exposed to the short or long term health complications of this practice. 
    Nigeria accounts for 20 million out of the 200 million women living today in 30 countries, with Africa accounting for 27 countries.
    As a result, the Cross River State Government is working alongside UNFPA to ensure the abolishment of this practice through the deployment of human rights, gender-equality and culturally sensitive approach in a consortium program involving UNICEF as well.”
    The event is celebrated on the 6th of February every year, and the theme of this year’s celebration is Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of actions to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation.

  • Gov Ayade Awards Multi-Billion AyadeCare Referral Specialist Hospital Projects To General Electric (GE)


    …Issues Eight-Month Deadline For Projects Completion

    HE Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, Digital Governor of Cross River State 

    In a bid to ensure that the state benefits from world class, high standard of health care service delivery, which is part of the dividends of democracy, the state government has embarked on  building of three standard referral Specialist hospitals, the Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade has signed a multi-billion contract with the General Electric (GE) that would ensure the completion of these projects.

    This giant step by Gov Ayade has been described as a welcome development by the people after Wednesday’s signing ceremony, which took place at the Conference room, Governor’s office, Calabar.

    Key among the areas that have been pinpointed is the Obudu hospital which has been roofed with GE to do the finishing furnishing and equipping; Etung and Akpabuyo which are near completion.

    The three specialist hospitals are expected to provide quality health care services to the people of Cross River State when completed.

    They have been issued an eight-month deadline to complete the project, as the administration of Gov Ayade is  obviously in a hurry to have its citizens enjoy that level of care which most medical specialist have described as second to none in Nigeria “Ayade’s great strifes shows commitment to revitalizing the health care sector.

    Ayade said he was optimistic that the company will live up to its billing and justify why it got the contract, adding that “GE is a brand known worldwide. The GE and Cross River State specialist hospital will be a model of how a specialist hospital should be run when completed.”

    More so, General Electric (GE) has been saddled with the responsibility of completing and equipping the specialist hospital in Obudu Local Government Area of the state.

  • Gov Ayade steps up renovation of General Hospital Calabar – See pictures

    My investment in health care is to provide social relief for my people -Ayade

    General Hospital Calabar:  Renovations Reaches advance stage as Government get expert advice

    As part of measures to make quality health care services available to residents of Calabar and its environs, the  Cross River State Government has reiterated its commitment to the completion of the ongoing renovation of the Calabar General Hospital.

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu stated this today during her scheduled inspection visit of the renovation and expansion work at the General Hospital in Calabar.

    Speaking immediately after the inspection visit, Dr.Betta said that the essence of the inspection was borne out of the need to ascertain the progress achieved so far by the contractor handling the project, whether work is carried out according to specifications.

    She revealed that the hospital project is dear to the heart of Governor Ayade, and that is why he has gone steps further to seek expert advice on how to upgrade the services to world class standard in General hospital Calabar
    She said that the Governor has done so much for the health sector in the state which includes the setting up of the Cross River State health insurance scheme (Ayadecare). Building 3 referral specialist hospital in the three senatorial district and building several Primary Health Care Centers awaiting formal commissioning

    She urged the people to visit hospitals for check-ups and receive treatments. As full service in the hospital will resume with presences of newly hired doctors and consultant specialist.

    Explaining further, she said that the remodeling is to meet with world-class standard.

    On work done so far, the commissioner said that remodel works and modernized structures already on the ground such as the walk-ways and the introduction of other facilities like a standard casualty suite that befits a first-class hospital are the achieved progress.

    While commending the work done so far, she said that workers have reached advance stages when compared to what was on ground as at his last visit and rated it at 60 percent completed.

    She called for patience from Cross Riverians and assured that with all hands on deck and every other thing being equal; by the end of February, the job would have been delivered.

  • Cross River flagged off 2nd Round Maternal Newborn and Child health Week with loads of packages.

    856,000 children under five and pregnant women will benefit!  – Dr Betta Edu

    Dr Betta Edu – center, flanked by beneficiaries 

    The Cross River State Government on Saturday flagged off the second round of the 2019 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week which is usually organized twice in a year to monitor the mother, pregnant women and every child from 0-58 months in terms of nutrition, hygiene and Immunisation and access to quality health care. while monitoring of Vitamin A supplementation of children 6-59 months Is key

    Governor Ben Ayade represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu flagged off the annual 2nd Round 2019 Maternal and New Born Child Health Week at Primary Healthcare Centre, Nasarawa Community, Ikot Ekpo, Calabar Municipality today.

    L-R Dr Betta Edu, Commissioner for Health CRS and Dr Janet Ekpenyong, DG CRS Primary Health Care

    It will be recalled that the provision of Sustainable Primary Health Care is a Major Goal of the State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade Healthcare Agenda which also covers the control of maternal mortality and infancy diseases and /nutrition control among others.

    Speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu said the week long exercise was to improve access the basic health care services for all while reducing morbidity and mortality in mothers, pregnant women and children of age 0-5 . She said the health week will feature routine immunisation against childhood killer diseases, administration of Vitamin A for children, deworming of children, screening for acute malnutrition in children with appropriate referrals, provisions of ante natal care iron-folate for pregnant women, distribution of mosquito nets to pregnant and lactating women as well as health education on key health tips for household practices and HIV testing, amongst others. According to her His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade since his assumption of office has recorded some tremendous achievements in improving  the quality of healthcare delivery services for people of the state and in this exercise we would be covering over 856,000 children under five and pregnant women in the state

    Also Speaking, Dr Janet David Ekpenyong  DG CRSPHCDA said the week was set up to fight and reduce maternal and infant child mortality. She urged women, guardians to make their wards available for immunization and other loads of packages.

    The DG assured the community of immediate revitalization of the health center to cater for the healthcare of the people in the community. According to her Governor Ben Ayade is very committed to drastically reduce maternal mortality and infancy through interventions such as State health insurance scheme “Ayadecare”.

    Earlier Speaking, Permanent Secretary Dr Joseph Bassey reiterated State Government commitment to provision of standard healthcare while Unicef representative, Dr Iyabola Ajibola added that children forms part of the most vulnerable in the society and as such should at least be immunised. She added that UNICEF will continue to play a pivotal role in support of immunization in Cross River State.

    The Nasarawa Community in Bacoco calabar municipality who turned out in their number were overwhelmed with joy and thank the Governor for his intervention stating that the will patronize the health care facility close to them. The joyously led the Commissioner for health and her team to their homes where she offered them LLITNets

  • Cross River First Lady commissions 1st ever Home Health Care

    By Frank Ulom

    Cross River State First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Linda Ayade on Saturday commissioned the launch of Home Health Care, a programme by Vital Signs in collaboration with AyadeCare in Calabar.

    Speaking, Dr Ayade who praised the innovation said, in the past years, it’s been difficult to get good medical services due to the torrential system. And that, many efforts from those in the medical sector have proved infertile.

    She added that, it was a very big delight to the state when His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade brought in the AyadeCare. According to her, the innovation is there to help both the rich and the poor and for all to have quality healthcare at the time of need.

    Speaking on the benefits of these programmes, Dr Ayade spread the play on why everyone should get a health insurance.

    Her words: “Sometimes when someone falls sick, it’s either you don’t have the means to go to the hospital or you don’t have the hospital near you at the time you need it. Those are the challenges that AyadeCare is here to tackle.”

    The stipend of N1000 per month which is an accumulative of N12000 per year for Home Health Care, Dr Ayade said is cheaper for everyone than what a person pays when he/she falls ill and later admitted in a hospital. But with AyadeCare, she said no matter the illness and number of times, the insurance covers all.

    “As we are launching the Home Health Care of the AyadeCare, we hope that Cross River State in the nearest future would be a hub to refer to in Nigeria in terms of medical care.

    “Health is wealth and if we know we’d keep ourselves healthy, then we shall get even wealthier. We’ve exemplified that today, and hopefully in the future, Cross River State will begin to get quality healthcare”, Ayade said.

    Giving her remarks, the CEO of Vital Signs and the Chief Host of Home Health Care, Dr. Genevieve Barnaby Ephraim said the programme will slow the growth of Healthcare cost for families, businesses and the government. She added that, it’ll save lives due to early intervention and at the same time reduce infection rates as well as encouraging and continuing care between the home and hospital.

    Dr. Barnaby whose inspiration was drawn from her livelihood in Cross River State and the United Kingdom said, “Healthcare is decisive of our future prosperity, it concerns more than material things, it is above all moral issues but concerns fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our state.

    “The government has stepped in to bring Home Health Care Services. Let us all join hands together to bring some basic peace of mind to our families”, she concluded

    His Royal Highness, the Ndidem of the Quas, Sir Barr. Dr. Patrick Inok Agbor who blessed the project also applauded Governor Ayade who innovated the Home Health Care.

    He advised all and sundry including the members of the royal palace to embrace the programme as it will help curb poverty in Cross River State.

    His words: “This is the healthcare that has been made feasible, affordable and ever ready to reach you wherever you are.

    “For our Elders and the senior citizens of this State, I brought you purposely to see what is going to happened, so that tomorrow no one will say he’s not informed.

    “This is the process where you can stay at the comfort of your home and use a simple phone call and services will be delivered to you in a very short period of time. The service you’ll derive from here will be far much cheaper than that of the hospital which is more stressful and barely reliable”, he said.

    Speaking also at the event was the Chairman, Dr. Inyang Asibong, Honourable Commissioner for Health who pointed 4 key things about health insurance which includes; making Healthcare available, affordable, feasible and accessible for everyone. She added that, the Vital Signs’ Home Health Care is a component of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (CRSHIS) known as AyadeCare that is starting October 1st, 2017.

    “The Home Health Care is the concept of bringing healthcare services to the comfort of our homes for just N1000. It’s specifically designed for the elderly ones, people who are very sick and cannot make it to the hospital, etc.

    “It is the first of it kind in Nigeria and other states are watching to see how it’ll work out so for them to follow. Therfore, everybody should key in, since it’s everyone’s programme and not for government alone.

    “The programme is designed for everybody, both indigenes and non-indigenes and at the same rate of N1000, just like the AyadeCare”, she concluded.

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu who lauded the innovation was pleased to say the Agency has donated a building already for the Home Health Care. She thanked Governor Ayade, Dr Linda Ayade, the Commissioner for Health and the chiefs for the support as the programme is the key to quality healthcare delivery at everyone’s door’s step.

    She said that, one of the very strong request of Governor Ayade was to see that quality healthcare services can be taken to the doors of everyone in Cross River State; this is what gave rise to the AyadeCare.

    She said, “I am so grateful that we have a little part of the AyadeCare which is today Home Health Care.

    “We have equally given our supports to ensure that workers will go to homes to deliver services to all registered persons.

    “This is the first in Nigeria, and we hope we can replicate other Local Government Areas across the state almost immediately so that other states in Nigeria can emulate Cross River State.

    “We are proud of AyadeCare as it’s started from the Home Health Care, we are proud that Cross River is making progress in achieving Universal Health Coverage,” Dr Edu said.

    Earlier speaking was Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, Consultant Surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital who said, health insurance is an interesting new innovation.

    He added that, Nigeria Healthcare has undergone several innovations including; the paediatric care, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), etc.

    “The problem in our society today is for the arrangement of patients to be administered into the hospital, but with the advent of Home Health Care Plus, that problem can be partly solved.

    “The benefit of health care services is not only for healthcare alone. The service is for patients to be cared for and nurtured in the environment they’re familiar with”, Prof. Ndoma-Egba said.

    Speaking also was the SA to the Governor on Insurance, Mr Godwin Iyala who spoke elaborately on why Governor Ayade tied insurance with health care. He said the objective can be drawn from the AyadeCare and the Home Health Care today.

    The SA applauded the innovation of Governor Ayade and the thinking force of Dr Barnaby as Cross Riverians cam now accessed quality healthcare with just a token of N1000.

    “What is happening in Home Health Care is just a little beginning of the AyadeCare. When you pay N1000 a month, you’re entitled to quality health services; this is just the beginning”, Mr. Iyala said.

    Highpoint of the event featured free medical checkups, health lecture speeches delivered by Mr Paschal Akpo, Dr Jane Adah, Provost, College of Health Technology, Professor Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, Professor Victor Ansa, Nurse Emelda Duke.

    Present at the event were Her Excellency, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo; Professor Okegbe, Chief Medical Director, Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar; Dr Nchewi Ani, President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter; Dr Ene-Obong, a UK based Health Expert; Comr. John O. Ushie, Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Cross River State Chapter; and others.

  • World Polio Day: Cross River Govt says it has mandate to free Cross River of Polio

    Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong

    By OBAJI AKPET

    The Cross River State Government, on Monday says it has a mandate to completely kick polio out of Cross River.

    The Cross River Commissioner of Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong stated this in an interview with newsmen during a street to street walk to sensitise members of the public of polio pandemic as organized by Rotary Club International in collaboration with the Cross River Ministry of Health.
    Asibong said the state was in collaboration with Rotary Club International to ensure that Cross River was completely free of polio.

    In her words, “we don’t want any child in Cross River to die of any vaccine preventable disease.”
    “We’re making sure that polio is kicked out in Cross River State,” the Commissioner added.
    On his part, the President of Rotary Club of Hilltop, Calabar, Rotarian Nicholas Obun Dan told newsmen that the sensitisation walk, which included market places was in preparation to polio vaccination to be flagged by the Cross River State Government.

    He added that the event, observed internationally is aimed at seeing the few remaining polio infested countries including Nigeria are completely rid of the disease.

    On his part, the Deputy Governor of Rotary Club International, District 940, Dr. Donald Bette Enu said polio inhibits the effective of Nigerians to contributing their quota to nation building.

    Also speaking, the Director General, Cross River Investment Promotion, Bar Rosemary Tutu Ekeng, who was part of the road talk as intending member of Rotary Club urged members of the public not to only wait till there is crisis before offering support to those in need.

    “We are too use to crisis managing; we shouldn’t wait until when people are almost dying before you rush in to help,” she said.

  • Cross River State marks Breast Cancer Day (Pink Day) with City Walk in Calabar

    Cross River State marks Breast cancer Day (Pink Day) on 19th October, 2016 with City Walk from the millennium Park through Calabar Road, IBB Way, Ndidem usang Iso Road to Ika Ika Market and terminated at Calabar municipality field. The 2016 Pink Day :To create Awareness on breast cancer which had as theme ‘The Walk, Run and Race Against Breast Cancer’

    Dr Inyang Asibong, Cross River Commissioner For Health who led the city walk and who also represented the Wife of the Governor,Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade expressed the State Government desire to champion prevention of breast cancer among women.

    According to her, it is a matter of great concern that breast cancer causes one death in twenty five women in Nigeria, noting that breast cancer can be prevented through early detection, monthly examination of breast among other measures.

    Dr Linda Ayade said available statistics showed that in 2012, 8.2 million people died of cancer worldwide and about 800, 000 new cases are recorded daily :assuring that as a woman, she will continue to champion the need to create awareness on prevalence of breast cancer among others through her Mediatrix Development Foundation.

    Dr Asibong clarified that to go pink as the day’s commemoration signified is to be hopeful on the fight against breast cancer scourge as it affects the people. She assured the people of His Excellency, Senator) Prof) Benedict Ayade administration’s sustainable Health Care Programmes in collaboration with ministries, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Medical Women Association Of Nigerian (MWAN), Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the beauty Queens, Leo District 404 A 2 Nigeria, schools children and various media organisations to kick out communicable and non communicable diseases out of the state.


    In separate remarks, Dr Betta Edu, DG Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Executive Director, Mediatrix Development Foundation, Mr Jeffrey Adamade said the wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade is very passionate about the reduction of cancer burden amongst the people.

    The President of the Medical Women Association Of Nigerian (MWAN), Cross River State chapter, Dr Nchewi Ani who was the coordinator of the Breast Cancer Day 2016 in her closing remarks said free clinical breast examination will continue between 19th October to 31st October 2016.

    She mentioned treatment options to include surgical, hormonal, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

    According to Dr Ani, places to go for clinical breast test are General Hospitals in the state, Medical Women Association of nigeria clinic at 2 Moore Road, Primary Health Centres, UCTH calabar, Asi Ukpo Diagnostic and Medical Centre, Mary Slessor Avenue and Arubah Specialist Hospital (behind Fiesta Fries), Calabar.

  • Two Death, many Hospitalised after eating CBN treated Rice meant for Planting in Ogoja

    Please this is to inform the people of Northern Cross River State especially those from Ogoja, Yala, Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku and the entire Cross River State about the death case of those who ate from particular rice.

    Reports reaching us stated that two persons are death while others are in a critical condition after eating the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Treated Rice meant for planting. Reports have it that those affected, mostly, from Yala and Ogoja, ate from the Rice given by the CBN Anchor programme for planting.

    However, the fear has been that, those given the Rice may not be the consumers, but innocent persons who may fall victim to the greed of others as the country’s recession is getting deeper and deeper.

    In a any case, one would suspect such thing to happen since a cup of rice now sells at N150 and above, and for the poor, it’s an opportunity to eat rice. But for the sake of your family and loved ones, please don’t eat from the treated rice since they contains chemicals which are harmful to the body and causes death, just like the cases recorded today.

    Please share this to help save lives….