Charles Ekanem|25 June 2016|8:18am
North Ukelle Community of Yala LGA received state government intervention and assurance that they have not been neglected as many of them thought.
Extensively living on farming as their only means of livelihood as cities around them are far away thus making it difficult for them to trade effectively.
From Okpoma Junction to Wanihem is 1 hour 30 minutes on an earth road, while getting to Oju LGA express way junction in Benue State from Wanihem is 2 hours 15 minutes.
3 weeks ago, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade directed that health interventions be taken to remote villages with less access to health care. On 12 June 2016,
Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency led by its Director General, Dr Betta Edu and SA to Governor on Electronic Media, Miss Akpala who incidentally is also from Ukelle, visited some villages in Ukelle North. Including the last village in the state, Wanihem, which shares common boundary with Oju LGA of Benue State.
According to the Ward Development Chairman, Mr Igbang Gabriel Iyamu, he said the only government official and a well known public figure to have visited the village is former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke who shed tears for over 10 minutes because of the deplorable conditions in those communities. Since then Sen. Ben Ayade is the only Government official who has dimmed it fit to remember us.
Mr Igbang continued, "people feels that we are poor but believe me we are very rich. If Government can provide good road, water, hospital and standard schools, the community will become the highest providers food products in CRS. our people die of common ailment like headache and Malaria because of non accessible healthcare services in the community. We die here as chickens and flies and will be happy if the state government can build a mortuary in Wanihem.
Responding, Dr Betta Edu told the people not to lose hope in the present administration as the state governor was passionate about their plight and will provide basic amenities to the community. He asked me to come here today and distribute long lasting treated insecticide nets and assess your health facilities. I will be back here in two weeks time, when I come I will touch other villages and meet specially with the women in this community and bring you special message from our Cross River State mother, Dr Linda Ayade.
On Sunday 19th June, 2016 two weeks after the first visit, The compassionate Director General of CRSPHCDA and her team were back at North Ukelle Communities with health interventions. Members of her team included Dr Ana Onabiene Director Primary Healthcare in the state, Dr Iwara Iwara State Malaria Program Manager, both are key directors in the agency and Mr Alege, State M&E officer.
This time around, the DG CRSPHCDA Dr. Betta Edu and her team combed all the communities in Ukelle North. They stopped at Wanokom Villages were she inspected health centers and donated LLINs to the people.
"His Excellency, Sen (Prof) Ben Ayade and his wife Dr Linda Ayade sent me here to meet with you and assure you that the state government will strive to attend to the needs of Wanokom people. But they ask me to first of all provide you basic healthcare services and its the reason why we are hear".
Also speaking, Dr Iwara Iwara pleaded with Wanokom people to make good use of the mosquito nets by always sleeping in it. At Wanikade Village, the elated DG inspected their health centers and later spoke to the officer in charge of the facility, Mr Thomas Ilepa assuring him of State Government intervention in their facilities soon. Mr Thomas had earlier decried poor state of the health centers, noting lack of electricity, water supply, toilet, lack of staff, medical equipment and lack of supplies to the laboratory.
On moving to the last village in North Ukelle and CRS. The people of Wanihem were full of joy as they never expected the DG will come back as earlier promised two weeks ago. Her second coming was a great opportunity to meet with the larger number of villages who weren't around during her first coming. She expressed the intention of the state government to come to their aid by providing basic social amenities for them.
Dr Ana Onabiene assured the community that the state will continue immunizing their children against measles, polio and any other vaccine treated diseases. He admonished them to always wash their hands periodically while appealing to the people to end open defecation and avoid diarrhoea outbreak that could cause death of children in the community.
It was really a good experience at North Ukelle as men, women, children, young, old came out in their numbers to welcome members of the state health team with smiles on their faces with open hands. They sang their native song and danced to the admiration of visitors.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
