By Prince Charles
The ongoing renovation and refurbishing of Primary Health Centres across the state by Cross River Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been commended by the chiefs and people of Mkpani in Yakurr local government area.
The Obol Lopon and Clan head of Aduma in Mkpani political ward stated this when the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) Dr. Betta Edu paid him a visit while on an inspection tour of Primary Health Care facilities Saturday, in Mkpani.
“It has been long we have been yearning for this kind of thing” Obol said. “You are welcome and we are happy that you are here to check how you can fix our health centres and we commend you for doing so”.
Earlier, Dr. Betta had pointed at the governor’s passion about the health of Cross Riverians as the main reason why he was doing his best to renovate and refurbish health centres across the state despite the lean financial resources available.
Dr. Betta who later visited the Health Post Ajere, expressed satisfaction with the work rate and ethic of the Officer in Charge of the facility, Okam Bassey Khompson who improvised means to ensure the people patronise the facility.
Speaking to a crowd of people who braved the rains in the visit facilitated by Honorable Eteng Jones, the member representing the constituency in the house of assembly, Dr. Betta marveled at the number of deliveries with 10 recorded for the month of July while 3 deliveries were carried out almost simultaneously on August 16, 2016 and called on the villagers to always encourage each other to register for ante natal care at Primary Health Centres as well as adopt family planning methods so as to be able to cater for their family especially in the face of dwindling economic fortunes.
She advocated for the proper use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets to prevent mosquito bites, urged the community to stop open defecation and regularly visit Primary Health Centres or health posts for their children to be vaccinated against diseases such as polio and many others.
“The Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade and his dear wife Dr. Linda Ayade are passionate about your health and that is why we have being mandated to sensitize you all on all these that I have mentioned” she said.
She also visited PHC’s in Obubra, Nko, other clans in Mkpani and Ugep informing them of an alert from the Federal Ministry of Health concerning a fake versions of Quinine Sulphate, an anti malaria medicine that is currently in circulation in West and Central Africa.
Over 500 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed in the various communities visited.
