Coco-bassey Esu|8 October 2016
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE :'CROSS RIVER IS ALIGNING FOR BETTER RESULTS' – West Africa College of Nursing.
The State Governor, His Excellency Senator Prof Benedict Ayade who was represented by the Deputy Governor , Prof Ivara Esu, Tuesday, declared open the three-day Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Scientific Conference of the West African College of Nursing, Nigerian Chapter, with the theme “Adding Value to Nursing Practice: The Nigerian Perspective”.
Prof Ivara Esu who represented the governor, Sen Prof Ben Ayade, in his remarks expressed his delight that the fellows of the college are carrying out the mandate of the college in terms of capacity building and to proffer a way forward for the profession and the college. He further assured that the state government has provided an enabling environment for nursing profession to thrive and create impact, developed the State Health policy and the revision of the State Strategic Health Development Plan which is ongoing and succeeded in getting accreditation for the state's schools of nursing and midwifery to ensure training of nurses and midwives, established the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Health Insurance Scheme etc. He pointed that providing good health care for all is the priority of the state and this cannot be achieved without the support of the West African College of Nursing.
The State Commissioner for Health who was presented with an award for her immense contribution in the fight for nursing accreditation and adequate health care for all, thanked the organizers for the award and assured them of her continuous support. Dr Asibong also commended the efforts made by the fellows of the college in shaping nursing profession whilst encouraging them not to soft pedal especially now that nursing profession is growing in strength.
The award is following the recent donation of two cryotherapy machines to the ministry by the Pathfinder Group and the signing of MOU with Roche Pharmaceutical Company, Lagos, to conduct Hepatitis screening in some rural communities in the state with high Hepatitis incidence.
Earlier in the opening Address by the chairman of West Africa College of Nursing (WACN), Nigeria branch, Dr Ijeoma Okoronkwo, she said 'with the recent developments in cross river health sector, we are assured the state is aligning for better results in achieving Universal Health Coverage, and as fellows, we are not in doubt that the state is adhering to the principles of effective development in health sector. The State has developed its State Health Insurance Scheme, Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Strategic Health Plan, Functional Primary Health centres across the state, Accreditation of schools of Nursing and Midwifery that can beats most University in some states in terms of structures, checkmating of quackery in the profession and a lot more has the state achieved during our recent visit to the State Ministry of Health. We visited the Commissioner last year and seek His Excellency, Gov Benedict Ayade support for our Annual General Meeting and she assured us of His Excellency support and today we are witnessing that support , you don't just look at her age, she has all what it takes to lead the ministry, the Director of Nursing Services, Barr Christy Essien told us in confidence that the Directors and staff of the ministry are pleased to have a hard working commissioner who can stay in office till 8-9pm trying to ensure things are done rightly. We have this award for her so that she can do more, very rare we do this, but we must encourage her to do more'.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Secretary to the state Government, Barr. Tina Agbor; the Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Professor Maurice Asuquo who was the Chairman of the occasion ; the DVC Administration of the University of Calabar, Professor Ndifreke Udonwa, who represented the VC; the Director of Nursing Services, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Barr., Christy Ekpe amongst others.
The main objectives of the West African College of Nursing are to promote excellence in Nursing Education at Basic and Post-Basic levels and maintain high standards of practice of nursing within the sub region. The college faculties include Medical and Surgical Nursing, Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing etc.
Coco-bassey Esu
Writes from Calabar