Charles Ekanem|8 June 2017
Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) has extended their advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Akpabuyo and Chairman Akpabuyo Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty Etinyin Maurice Nya and members of his council over the forth coming Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH) starting from the 18th of June 2017 NegroidHaven has gathered.
Briefing the Royal Fathers, the Director General of CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu, said the Cross River State Government is unveiling something big for the people of Akpabuyo LGA and that is the Maternal Newborn and Child Health week were all the children, women will be taken care of from a basket of health service intervention.
According to her, some of the things Akpabuyo Local Government Area will be benefitting for the period of one week is deworming the children, providing antenatal care, health education, exclusive breastfeeding classes, immunization, outreaches, nutrition demonstration on how to feed well with locally available food, mosquito treated nets distribution, HIV testing and treatment, PMTCT services and Vitamin A supplementation to fight against malnutrition of children, and many more.
She said the exercise will take place in the Primary Healthcare Centres and by that provisions will be made through the Ward Development Committee to the town criers and youth for women and children to be mobilized en mass to the health centres.
She used the opportunity to demand for security protection during the exercise by calling on the royal fathers to play a pivotal role in the safety of health workers that will be carrying out the exercise.
Dr Edu pleaded with the royal fathers to discourage their people especially women from the use of unskilled birth attendant for pregnancy delivery as she reaffirm that health centres were the best place for them to take delivery.
Finally she intimated the chiefs that a decision was reach at the level of the Agency for all the community heads to be copied on the new posting of health workers to facilities, this according to her will checkmate the excesses of health workers posted to facilities.
Dr Edu thanked the royal fathers for finding time to attend to them while promising that every child in Akpabuyo will be immunized against vaccines preventable diseases.
Responding, His Royal Majesty, Etinyin Maurice Nya said Akpabuyo is very safe and accommodating for all visitors. According to him child and mother health is very vital to the growth of the family and as such Akpabuyo will not take last in the coming exercise as the traditional council will immediately push for total awareness campaign by taking the message down to their various clans.
We want to sincerely thanked His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade for his support to child and mother health in the State. We are very grateful and for that the traditional rulers will do every thing within their reach to ensure this coming exercise is successful in Akpabuyo.
The Director General was accompanied by the Director Primary Healthcare, Dr Ana Onebiene, the new State Immunization Officer, Mrs Grace Utung, State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Regina Adie and the State M&E Officer, Mr Edward Aleje.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
