Charles Ekanem|1 September 2017
Cross River State Health Sector with the support of World Health Organization ( WHO) disease surveillance have scaled up trans border activities to check mate cross border transmission of diseases using case-based surveillance.
Speaking, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong said they are here to carry out border surveillance on diseases like meningitis, polio, yellow fever, hermogiagic fever and lassa fever to sensitize the border security personnel on priority diseases that should be reported when seen.
She said prevention of cross transmission of diseases at our international borders have prompted the State to train security personnel on surveillance as the major aspect of governance was health and security.
She said surveillance in the border is a continuous process by the health sector and for them in Cross River the struggle will not end until all this killer diseases are eliminated.
Security personnel from Customs, Navy, Army, Immigration and Police have been fully sensitized and are vigilant and observant to notify on signs of these diseases when seen.
Also speaking, Director General State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Betta Edu, said everyone should be very vigilant in checkmating the various signs of these diseases at the borders as people come down from Cameroon to Bakassi for businesses and we also go over there to transact businesses.
"Every child whether from Nigeria or Cameroon must be immunised against killer diseases", said the DG.
According to her Cross River State is taking the lead in the final round of eliminating polio and several other diseases in Nigeria aggressively by setting up primary healthcare post and centers at all the borders which will work with the security personnel to guard our borders from these diseases.
"If you see something even in healthcare say something" by calling the numbers provided as these vital information could go a long way to save the State and nation from massive loss of lives.
She said they have equally activated Emergency Transport Unit which is suppose to go through those border areas, keep surveillance for us, report any case, as Health security is one of their major agenda.
Stressing further, she affirmed that capacity of health workers in border communities have been built to do proper surveillance, communities have been sensitized to watch out and notify relevant authorities.
"Improvement of all primary health facilities around the borders are on going so that travellers coming in from Cameroon or leaving Nigeria are fully safeguarded.
Earlier Speaking, WHO State Coordinator, Dr Tom Igbu said their main aim of coming to bakassi is to see how best to implement surveillance activities across Nigerian Cameroon border by strengthening to ensure all diseases under surveillance are quickly detected and reported to appropriate authorities so they can take action and prevent the spread of this diseases.
Permanent Secretary Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr Joseph Bassey mentioned the six WHO priority diseases the people should be watchful such as Acute flaccid Paralysis ( Polio), measles, Neonatal tetanus, yellow fever, cholera and cerebro spinal (Meningitis). He spoke in local dialect to the people and travellers
The team also met with the royal fathers and security operatives at the border line.
Charles Ekanem
Is a Health Reporter
