Linda Ayade Commissions PHC As Cross River Promises To Attain Universal Health Coverage By December 2016

In a bid to drastically reduce infant and maternal mortality rate in the state, Cross River Government has set December 2016 date to attain Universal Health Coverage for its citizens.

To this end, the state, in collaboration with some donor agencies and in line with the Federal Government’s policy of establishing a functional health center in each of the political wards across the country, is embarking on comprehensive renovation and reconstruction of primary health care facilities across the 18 local government areas.

Speaking at the commissioning of one of the facilities in Aningeje, Akamkpa Local Government Area, Wife of the Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, who was represented by the Special Adviser in her office, Mrs. Rose Eneji, admonished women to make judicious use of the facility and refrain from patronizing unskilled Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). This she said will reduce the infant and maternal mortality rate by 75 percent.

Mrs. Ayade who is also the initiator of Mediatrix Development Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization concerned with health of women and children in the state, however, regretted that despite the free health care program for pregnant women and children under five years in the state, some women still patronize unskilled birth attendants.

She urged all stakeholders to join forces with government in sensitizing the populace on the danger of this practice to change the ugly trend.

She thanked donor agencies operating in the state for their support, maintaining that the state will not rest on it oars in ensuring that the citizens, no matter where they live, have access to qualitative health care services while also urging the community to take ownership of the center to derive maximum benefit.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, restated that “the state was taking a lead in healthcare delivery at the grassroots level in country being the first to start implementation of the one functional health center per ward initiative of the Federal Government through massive renovation and reconstruction of health centers across the 18 local government areas.”

She disclosed that the “Aningeje Health Center was fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities comparable to any standard clinic in the world in addition to the installation of solar panel that will ensure uninterrupted power supply and a borehole to guarantee constant water supply which she noted are essential components of any standard healthcare facility .”