Government of Canada to Strengthen Primary Healthcare Delivery in the State

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Charles Ekanem|6 December 2016

Government of Canada through the High Commission of Canada and Global Affairs met with the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. Linda Ehrichs, counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation said the team was delighted to be in Cross River for a fact findings mission on the achievement of primary healthcare delivery, the which to know the challenges and gaps before their intervention. She said Canadian government will continue supporting healthcare system in the state. Cross River state is one of our focus point in building of capacity and human resources through the School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Technology, where our programs are visible.

Speaking also, the team leader Dr Muyiwa Ojo from WHO Office Cross River said they were here to find out how functional and explorable the Agency is and its activities. He said their first point of duty is to help the government pilot supportive supervision across health facilities.

Responding, Dr Betta Edu thanked the Canadian government for their support to the Cross River Primary Health Care Agency through CHAI, CUSO, WHO amongst others.
'I wish to specially acknowledged the support Canadian Government gave for the rehabilitation of PHC Centre in Aningeje, Akamkpa alongside UNH4. Dr Edu further disclosed to the visitors that Cross River State have recently received support from CUSO for policy planning which a volunteer Janice Kopinaks came in from Canada and one volunteer will also be coming to the state for strengthening of monitoring and evaluation in January'.

She commended them for supporting College of Health Technology, School of Nursing and Midwifery which will produced Community Health Extension Workers and  Midwives to deliver primary Health Care services.

CRSPHCDA has a policy which is 'primary healthcare under one roof and one PHC per ward'. For effective delivery we have One Plan, One Management, One Monitoring and One Accountability.

'We have always resolved to achieve universal healthcare coverage, and the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade is very passionate about the healthcare system of the state. According to the DG when the High Commissioner of Canadian Embassy visited the governor he asked the governor to upgrade the Department of Community Health to State Primary Healthcare Agency which didn't take the governor two weeks to deliver his promise.

'Part of the effort to attain this goals is the introduction of State Healthcare Insurance Scheme also known as AYADE CARE to Cross Riverians. We held town halls meetings to sensitize the people on it. Also we  have a Board that oversees the activities of the Agency', she further informed.

'We have human resource gaps, poor data management, and a few concerns on service delivery. we look forward to your support and collaboration for service delivery under the one PHC per ward policy of the State', she said.

Dr Edu went on to eulogize Global Affairs Canada for their support to Clinton Health Initiative Access who trained CHEWS across the State on Diarrhoea cases and management. She said Cross River state door is always open for more support and partnership with the Canadian Government.

Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar