Charles Ekanem|29 June 2017
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Cross River State Chapter yesterday vowed to support His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade in the fight against Maternal Mortality by giving maximum support to the government during the coming Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH) NegroidHaven has learnt.
His Lordship, Archbishop Joseph Ukpo emeritus the Head of CAN who welcomed the DG and her delegation from the Agency noted that a healthy mind is a worthy mind and as such CAN is ready to work with the Government of Cross River State. He dismissed the popular adage that CAN is always opposing government policies as not being true. He stated that CAN will support government policies and programme and only voice out when things are not going well in the society.
He added that Maternal Mortality is not just when the woman is pregnant or giving birth but when the woman is well informed about it to avoid going into what they didn't plan or get ready for.
We are happy with the progress of the state government in their fight against maternal mortality and I am assuring His Excellency of our full support. We would pray for you and safety of all health workers when they enter the field. We will continue to pray for Cross River State.
CAN is always available to offer their profound services to the health sector anytime they are called upon to do so.
Earlier speaking, Dr Betta Edu thanked CAN for all the support they have been giving to the Agency and state in the past by saying Cross River State and our Governor is very grateful to CAN for all their support in the past. We seek your spiritual support through prayers for the state, its leadership, security, and health workers going out to the field as well as clients coming into the facilities to be protected by God.
According to her the purpose of their coming is to sensitize the Christian leaders on the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week coming up very soon being that CAN have always play a big role in ensuring MNCH week is announced in all churches and have supported with commodities for a successful week in the State.
"A lot of services will be offered to our children and women with a target at having healthy mothers and healthy children which is also targeted at reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality while for pregnant women we will be giving them Tetanus injection that will protect their unborn babies and nutritional supplement like Folic acid, Iron, Vitamin B12, antenatal classes to discuss with them the benefit of delivering at health facilities instead of delivering at homes of Traditional Birth Attendants and prayer houses. We need CAN to support us to stop prayer houses and churches from taking deliveries.
She said immunization, screening for malnutrition for children and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and AIDS (PMCT) Services will also be rendered to the people during the week long program as the state is working assiduously to ensure we have generation free of HIV & AIDS.
Finally she added that incentives like delivery kits containing all delivery tools will be given to all pregnant women with Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets to prevent them from Malaria.
The Vice Chairman of CAN praised the Governor for payment of salaries noting that when names of states owing salaries was read on network news, CRS was not mentioned.
The DG was accompanied to the visit by Mrs Regina Adie, State Nutrition Officer and State Mobilization Officer, Mrs Agnes Ogogo, including Mrs Grace Uting state Immunisation Officer amongst others.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
