Cross River Health Summit: We Set the Pace in Development
By: Onyi Ogar
The Cross River State government has said that it has maintained its position in the country as a frontier in policy formulation, infrastructural development and human capital growth for the benefit of the state.
The deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu said this in Calabar last week, while inaugurating the maiden Cross River state council on Health at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.
He said that the achievement was evident in the developmental strides in the health sector across the state which include the launch of “Ayade care”, the Calabar pharmaceuticals company and the ongoing construction of three Referral Hospitals, purchase of three Mobile Hospitals and medical tricycles to complement.
Others are improved collaboration with bilateral and multilateral organisations, extensive renovation and rehabilitation of general hospitals across the state, renovation and refurbishment of comprehensive Primary Health Centres across the state with over 20 container loads of state of the art equipments for Primary Health Centres and hospitals as well as massive development and employment of human resources for Health Care across the state.
He maintained that the celebration of the birth of the Cross River State council on Health marks the beginning of a fresh challenge for both the Ministry of Health and the state government with the theme: “Cross River State Strategic Health Plan number 11 – Roadmap to achieving Universal Health Coverage”.
The deputy governor explained that the first Cross River State Council on Health was appropriate as this administration aligns with the rest of the world in bringing quality and affordable healthcare to all and sundry.
Earlier, the minister of health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, who was represented by Mr. Ali Ahmed Gubio, noted that Cross River was among the few states in the country to hold her state council on Health meeting, following the resolutions of the 61st national council on Health meeting held in June in Kano this year.
He also commended Cross River State for being the first to forward its state Strategic Health Development plan to the National Council on health for approval and implementation.
The minister remarked that, federal ministry of Health over the years has witnessed numerous strides by the state government in the area of Health especially in the improvement of the Health status of women and children in its various Health Programmes.
He assured the state government and people of the state that it would continue to partner with the state and all other stakeholders in the health sector, to ensure its significant implementation to improve the health status of Cross Riverians.
The commissioner for health, Dr. Inyang Asibong said that the state has achieved global recognition as it sought to achieve her vision of Universal Health coverage for the indigenes of the state.
Dr. Asibong also reaffirmed that after the Health summit, Cross River is the only state in the country that won bidding right for the renovation of all maternal wards in general Hospitals across the state.
The commissioner stated that Cross River state has received accreditation for all the schools of Nursing in the state which was reactivated by the Ayade – led administration.
The Lens reports that good will messages were presented by representatives of International Organisations and partners in the Health sector as well as the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
Published in maiden edition, Lens Newspapers Vol. 1 No. 12.