Efio-Ita Nyok|30 September 2016
Yesterday 29 September witnessed the Official Signing and Flagging off of Etisalat Fight Malaria Initiative which featured Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr Linda Ayade, as her partner. The event took place at University of Calabar International Conference Centre and commenced by 1PM.
The Governor’s wife, Dr Ayade, in her speech said she initiated the Hunt Malaria program in 2015 to fill the gap in malaria prevention and treatment and also reduce the prevalence of Malaria and HIV in public schools. According to her, more than 10,000 students have benefited from distribution of long lasting treated nets and 25,000 youths and students will be trained on ICT to champion the fight against Malaria in the state while noting that ICT was infused as one of the component tool to fight against Malaria which Etisalat have agreed to partner with her foundation to equip schools in CRS with computers. She applauded Etisalat for their kindness while promising to sustain the initiative in CRS.
On his part, the Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria Ibrahim Dikko ably represented by the head of Government and Community Relations, Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf informed that the partnership is part of the company’s passionate commitment to sustainable development in the core areas of health, education and environment. That yesterday’s event was a testament to their partnership in health and education combined.
‘One of the key focal areas of our CSR intervention programme is health, and this initiative forms a part of it. We have a target to use ICT in fighting Malaria in Nigeria because our youths need to be I.T oriented to research new technological strategies to curb the disease in the state. We expect that through these clubs, education and information on prevention of other opportunistic infections and diseases that threaten health of our youth will be achieve through the setting up of ICT centres in schools with the fight malaria clubs. We applaud the Government of CRS especially Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade for building this partnership with us’, Yusuf noted.
In her opening remark, the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Betta Edu, said CRS have been working so hard to end Malaria for good. We have intensified steps to be taken as an Agency and one of such is the partnership with Her Excellency Dr Linda Ayade’s pet organization, Mediatrix Development Foundation to secure partnership with telecommunications giant Etisalat to initiate Etisalat Fight Malaria program in the state. She eulogized the first lady Dr Linda Ayade and all major stakeholders in health sector who have contributed to the Fight Malaria Initiative.
‘We are revitalizing the primary health sector by rehabilitating primary health centers under the one functional PHC per ward policy of the state Government, we have employed doctors to man the PHCs, we have stepped up the fight against infant and maternal mortality which can be cause by Malaria’, she submitted.
The highpoint of the event featured official signing of MoUs by both parties. There was also the presentation of N1, 000,000 check to wife of the Governor of Cross River State by Etisalat Nigeria, and 40 computers to wife of Governor who in turn presented it to all schools present.
The Chief Host of the occasion, Professor Zana I. Akpagu, Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar in his remarks said MDF have been so proactive especially in the area of Malaria prevention which the foundation is taking a lead. He lauded the Etisalat partnership and describe it as service to humanity.
Mr Asu Okang, Commissioner of youth and sport expressed delight at the exercise just as he lauded the telecom firm for taking up the fight against malaria which claims millions of lives yearly especially in Sub-Saharan Africa largely due to environmental reasons. He said the Ministry was unfolding a youth multi sectoral program that will engage our youths and students on part time jobs.
Present at the event were SSG, Barr (Mrs) Tina Agbor, House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon.Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who spoke briefly on measures taken by the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly to strengthen healthcare in state such as Ayadecare, primary healthcare bill now law. Others were representatives of UNFPA led by Dr Yakubu Aliyu, Executive Director of MDF, Mr Jeffrey Adamade, Dr Iwara Iwara, State Program Manager Roll Back Malaria, Dr Steven Takim who represented the Honourable Commissioner of Health and University of Calabar Students Union Government Executives, other members of EXCO, CRS Women in Politics, commissioners’ wives, group etc where present.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of NegroidHaven.org
Is a Blogger & the Editor of NegroidHaven.org
