Charles Ekanem|24 July 2017
COMMENDS USAID FOR RESOLVE TO INVEST IN CROSS RIVER STATE MALARIA PROJECT.
Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, while receiving delegation of United State International Agency for Development (USAID) in her office lauded them for choosing Cross River State for their intervention while promising that the State will not stop their support in addressing all discrepancies associated with the healthcare system NegroidHaven has learnt.
Speaking, the HSS lead, USAID Nigeria, Laura McCough said their reason of coming is to know how best there can help the people of Cross River State in their Primary Healthcare needs and in addressing the malaria project. "Your organization have better understanding and should guide USAID in selection of program to support".
Program Manager USAID, Dr Uwem Inyang added that the team were in the State last year to do some technical background work and enter into MOU with the Government on their intention to intervene in the State. He said the visit will also help USAID understand the true picture of the State Healthcare System, what is working and what is to be done or change that will make the system more effective.
According to him they have visited two Primary healthcare facilities in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality and the General Hospital and have identified gaps that need intervention by state and partners. He said their findings was on service delivery, health governance and health information system.
Dr Betta Edu responding said the State is not unaware of the challenges in the health sector, however a lot of work is going on to address most of it. She said for new projects coming onboard the project should be made to address health systems not programs. She said as long as the issue of system remains the sustainability of those individual programs in the State it is questionable. We can all work together to speed up the progress of healthcare delivery improvement in the State.
For the Agency, the approach of the State Government is to see how these system issues are address so that the health system will not suffer. She said the stage where the Primary healthcare is now is bringing PHC under one roof where movement of workers and their pay point from the Local Government to the Agency has been done and the Agency has began moving their administrative office to the permanent site. And Health workers are now moved to fill in gaps while employment is ongoing.
The State Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade, His Wife, Dr Linda Ayade, Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, the Primary healthcare Agency and entire health team is committed to see that things are improved in the State health sector.
Finally she commended USAID and ask them to continue keeping faith with Cross River State as many of the concerns raised like the zonal storage Hub are already been addressed by the State and a lot of progress made to resolve them for the benefit of the State Health System and the people.
Present at the meeting were Dr Iwara Iwara, Director Pubic Health, SMOH, Dr Asuquo O. Ekwe, Acting Program Manager, State Malaria Elimination Program, Foyeke Oye-Adebagbo, Social Behaviour Change Officer, USAID Nigeria amongst others from NSCIP, GSHC PSM.
Charles Ekanem
Is a Health Reporter
