Efio-Ita Nyok|31 May 2016|7:01am
The Cross River State Ministry of Health, under the able leadership of Dr Inyang Asibong, recently partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Cross River State.
It did this by way of collaborating with a 2016 Batch B Corp member, in the person of Corper Onoja Abraham John, currently serving in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Cross River State.
If you recall, the NYSC Scheme has a community service component referred to as Community Development Service (CDS) according to which corp members are expected to identify areas of need in society, their primary place of assignments (PPA), where they could be of selfless service.
Corper John who, actually serves in the office of Head of Personal Staff Unit of the Deputy Governor's Office decided to organise a Health Outreach in collaboration with Asibong's Ministry of Health tagged Health and Safety for Workers. According to Corper John, 'the target audience is actually staff, ranging from political appointees, civil servants, security personnel, all staff generally of the Governor's Office'.
The health outreach entail free medical services including tests for blood sugar level, Malaria, high/low blood pressure, weight and height measurement, blood mass and general medical check up/assessment of state of health; giving out of free medication, insecticide treated nets, advice etc
On their part, the Ministry of Health provided the medical personnel, medical equipments, and medications that were used for the said outreach.
The occasion which took place at 9am at Governor's Office had the Commissioner for Health, representative of the Deputy Governor, representative of the State Coordinator of the NYSC, CRS; representative of the Secretary to the State Government, staff of Governor's Office, serving corp members, and a cross section of Cross Riverians in attendance.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, lauded the Personal Community Development Service (CDS) of Corper John, charging other corp members serving in the state to take a cue from their colleague and encouraged the staff of Governor's Office to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the corp member. In her words, 'The door of the Ministry of Health is wide open to supporting initiatives of this nature; I urge all staff of the Governor's Office to explore the features provided by this youthful and thoughtful initiative'.
According to Corper John what informed this CDS initiative stems from the understanding that staff of the Governor's Office work round the clock and tirelessly; therefore, they hardly remember/have the time to take care of their selves especially health. In his own words, Corper John disclosed that, 'most people ask me why I am doing this for the staff of Governor's Office, and I keep telling them that those working here, work almost round the clock; they don't have the time to assess these medical facilities outside. That is one of the reasons why, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, we are bringing these services to their doorsteps'.
Corper John, who is a graduate of International Relations, lauded the enviable features of the state especially tourism, general cleanliness, hospitality, etc rating the state, in these regards, very high.
In appreciation of the humble and selfless gesture of Corper John one of the recipients of the free medical service, Mr K. Kanu of the Deputy Governor's Office praised the Corp Member praying that he be recognised for this kind gesture. In Mr Kanu's words, 'It's a very great opportunity for the staff… I do not remember the last time I did my tests, today through him, I have done the test… The guy deserve an award'. For Mr Declan Ogar-Genesis, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, the CDS initiative spearheaded by Corper John is a function of the new Cross River spirit which he imbibed. He said it's a welcome idea and worth commending: 'It's a spirit that he came home to inherit; it's the spirit of new Cross River that he is just exhibiting. It's a welcome idea… You see how people are enthusiastic, that is to say Cross Riverians care for their health, health is wealth. So, for this thing that is taking place here, is something that is commending'.
The venue of the event was flooded with staff, they kept coming and coming beyond the expectations of the organiser of the event until medical supplies were exhausted. The reporter heard the enthusiastic cueing staff at the venue appreciating the gesture of Corper John. They generally lauded the initiative saying it was commendable.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
