Charles Ekanem|29 July 2016
The Dynamic Director General of the Cross River state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, has again through her innovative and strategic administrative style 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 24 hours. 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 collaboration with WE CARE SOLAR has provided Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) with 50 highly efficient solar energy systems which will boost 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 to 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.
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 Calabar Municipality.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
