Every war must have a war room; a situation room where
the gladiators meet to plan, strategize, analyze, update, brief and effectively
manage response to any issue. The health challenges in the country and indeed
the state has called for this war room approach to effectively respond to
health challenges, gather Data, monitor staff and facility performance as well
as link communities to health services, there is need for the Health response
in the state to go digital and that is exactly what the Government of Governor
Ben Ayade has done!
The World has gone digital and the CRS Health Sector is
not left behind. Today the State’s Deputy Governor Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu has
unveiled the State’s Health Situation Room located at the Cross River State
Ministry of Health an idea and vision of the workaholic Health Commissioner Dr
Betta Edu aimed at digitalizing the health response in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health who played host to His
Excellency welcomed the dynamic and health pro Deputy Governor addressing him
as the “Father of Immunization” to the Ministry after a brief stop in her
office where Prof Ivara couldn’t hide his excitement but went further to
commend her for the tremendous transformation she has achieved in the Ministry
as he noted numerous changes.
In his words; “I’ll wish to
first of all applaud and congratulate the super performing Commissioner for
Health who has been able to set the records straight and effect very vital and
notable changes in the health sector within a very short time. I can see your
magic fingers almost in everything especially your total transformation of the
Ministry’s headquarters and innovative ideas/visions that are today driving the
health sector of the State forward. As a State we’re indeed very proud of you.
“Again I wish to use
this medium to express my happiness and thanks on behalf of the State Governor
Sen Prof Ben Ayade to FHI360 and USAID for the support. This Situation Room
will help reduce the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the State as well as serve
other purposes in the health sector which will include monitoring service
delivery at the grass root from here, while getting feedbacks which will help
us to strengthen and link up with health facilities across the State. This
vision will therefore tell you again that Governor Ayade, Prof Ivara and Dr
Betta are indeed working and will continue to deliver in the Health Sector.”
In a vote
of thanks, the Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu immediately after the unveiling
of the Situation Room by the Deputy Governor thanked His Execllency Sen Prof
Ben Ayade and His Deputy Prof Ivara Esu for the unflinching support stating
that the idea behind this drive is to ensure that HIV/AIDS response in the State
as well as other health issues can be monitored from a Central Point and
solutions to challenges in the the field provided in real time.
“This idea
is to enable us supervise/checkmate the activities of staff, partners and
performance of Health facilities across the State in not only HIV/AIDS area but
also in other health indices. This is important as we kick start the State
Health Insurance Scheme (Ayade Care).
“They’re
also several interventions going on to help reduce the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
with our partners working assiduously like FHI360, Jpiego, Heartland Alliance,
UNICEF etc they have been of immense support and as a State we appreciate them.
We won’t only stop at this interventions, proper treatments and drugs will also
be provided to facilities to help tackle most of this challenges. we’ll keep
doing more as a State and as a Ministry. We won’t rest until we achieve
Universal Health Coverage.”
The House
Committee Member on Health Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey assured the State of a constant
synergy between the Legislature and the Executive to achieve results as well as
gathering of data timely and regularly so the State can achieve universal
health coverage. The Director General of the State Agency for the Control of
Aids (SACA) Dr Etcheri Ansa applauded the idea nonoting that the newly unveiled
Situation Room will help address the challenge of communication breach
especially in hard to reach areas. “This is a dream comes true and i wish to
thank His Excellency for his support as well as the Health Commissioner Dr
Betta Edu and all our partners for this great achievement. With this our
HIV/Aids prevalence rate will further be reduced from 2% to Zero as this is our
desire as State.”





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