By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A one-time chairman of Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State and currently the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, has lauded the state governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his unprecedented energy and ideas to rebirth the health sector of the state in his first 100 days in office.
The commissioner made the remarks yesterday while answering questions from journalists in Calabar, where he talked about the ministry’s strides in last 100 days in office.
Ayuk averred that Otu’s initiative to ensure that healthcare under one umbrella is far from scoring a cheap political goal, rather, it is borne out of patriotism and altruism to improve the standard of the health sector of the state.
Insisting that the rebirth of Cross River State health sector by Senator Otu, apart from keeping to both his campaign promises and altruism for the wellbeing of the people, is also in line with the Universal Health Coverage, UHC, initiative.
Enumerating the giant strides recorded by the Otu administration in the health sector, since assumption of office in the last 100 days, Ayuk stated that the because of the determination to succeed, the administration has set up a solarized self-sustaining oxygen plant with an additional 150KVA generator which is yet to be commissioned.
He stressed that the plant will produce medical oxygen for the entire healthcare delivery sector in Cross River State and its environs.
The Health Commissioner maintained that the Otu administration has set the ball rolling by engaging the services of additional doctors, pharmacists, science lecturers, Nurse/Midwife/Public Health lecturers to strengthen health facilities to boost the Colleges of Nursing Sciences for accreditation by enhancing the libraries and laboratories with additional books and equipment.
He stressed that the Essential Drugs Store, EDS, vandalized by #EndSARS protesters has been renovated to grade ‘A’ standard in collaboration with AKESIS Limited for storage of medical commodities.
Ayuk maintained that th ongoing renovation and equipping of the Fistula Center in collaboration with UNFPA would assist in solving Fistula issues to give succour to those suffering from the ailment.
Other achievements of the administration in 100 days, as enumerated by Ayuk include: the completion of Phase 1 solar lighting to illuminate the hospital premises at night.
“Renovation of TB Reference Laboratory, administrative block and provision of incinerator for management of medical waste in collaboration with development partners at Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar.”
Tbe commissioner averred that primary healthcare center is incomplete without availability of water, stressing that the Otu administration has completed the drilling of boreholes for PHC Ogboga, Ibil and Ekumtak respectively for availability of water supply and upgraded two facilities in hard-to-reach areas of old Ndebeji and Akor in Akamkpa Local Government Areas, as well as completed a beautiful edifice to serve as staff quarters for the facilities.
Other strides made by the the Otu administration in the health sector within 100 days of coming on board include: upgrading of 191 health facilities through Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, BHPF, by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, with the revitalization of 196 Ward Development Committees, WDCs, across the state as the fourth level of care.
In the area of Health Care Insurance Scheme, Ayuk stated that the ministry had already conducted enrollment of 24,874 enrollees from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF, Programme, who were enlisted into the programme with full accreditation of 54 PHCs and 27 private health facilities as primary providers across the state.
