Charles Ekanem|8 February 2017
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Betta Edu on Monday 30th January received encomium from the Chiefs of Ikot Okon Nyandi Nyoku Village of Efut Ekondo Clan, Calabar South LGA for facilitating the relocation of NYSC Community Based Health Centre that has been in the chiefs palace for over 3 years.
Speaking, Dr Betta Edu commended the village head Ndabo Emmanuel Okon Edet for hosting the NYSC Community Based Health Centre in his palace for three years now after the facility was evicted from its former location by a court due to non-payment of rent which ran into years. She said "no sacrifice was too much for the health of your people, I thank you".
Dr Edu pleaded with the Village Head to exercise patience for few weeks which all necessary process would have been carried out before the temporary relocation of the facility from 101 White House street to the proposed new site at the former headquarters of the Ministry of Sustainable Development Goals located at 4 Atu Street, Calabar which is about 5 minutes away.
She also promised to recommend Ndabo Edet to the Board of the Agency for award of recognition and champion of primary healthcare in Calabar communities.
Earlier speaking, the Secretary of the Efut Ekondo Clan Traditional Rulers Council, Ndabo Emmanuel Edem Otu Duke said the facility was first located at 3 Atu street after it was set up by youth corps members in 1984, the facility was transferred from that location in 2013 “due to the poor condition of the house which was a rented property. According to him the present place housing the health centre is not big enough to accommodate some equipment like solar system and refrigerator that was meant for the facility."
He noted that the facility used to house Resident Doctors, Nurses and all the NYSC medical students. He however lamented that efforts to get the former head office of the Ministry of Sustainable Development Goals to house the facility has been thwarted at the community level by some political elites of Ward 9.
The chiefs and staff of the facility later conducted the the DG, Dr Betta Edu around the proposed facility and implored her to facilitate the fast tracking of the processes required in permitting the community to use the premises. With the movement the will be space for delivery, antenatal care and other services
It would be recall that Ndabo Edet the village head of Ikot Okon Nyandi Nyoku in Efut Ekondo Clan of Calabar South local government area had drew the attention of the CRSPHCDA to his plight of been unable to receive guests in his palace since 2013 when he chosed to house the facility which has no space.
Present with the DG to the visit included Mrs Ekaette Ekpenyong, the PHC Coordinator of Calabar South and some other members of the Agency.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
