The Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA), Dr. Charles Iwara, alongside senior health officials and development partners, has inspected the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre in Ikang, Bakassi Local Government Area.
The visit is part of ongoing efforts to bolster primary healthcare services and elevate healthcare delivery across the region.
The high-powered delegation included the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Otu; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonah Offor; and representatives from the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), including Dr. Joe Uwana and Dr. Onyekachi.
Speaking during the assessment, Dr. Charles Iwara emphasized that sustained collaboration among health sector stakeholders is vital for improving service delivery,particularly regarding HIV/AIDS care, in rural and underserved communities.
He noted that upgrading primary healthcare facilities remains critical to addressing grassroots health challenges and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations across the State.
Dr. Iwara further explained that the visit was aimed at assessing the facility's capacity to handle HIV cases and guarantee unhindered access to treatment.
He called on international and local partners to rally behind the state government in its quest to eliminate the HIV scourge.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jonah Offor, commended front-line health workers and development partners for their unwavering commitment.
He assured them that the Ministry of Health would continue to institutionalize and support initiatives aimed at reinforcing the health sector.
Reaffirming their organization’s stance, Dr. Onyekachi of ECEWS pledged continued support for healthcare interventions in Cross River State, specifically targeting HIV services, maternal healthcare, and quality patient care.
He lauded the Cross River State Government for maintaining the strategic partnerships that drive these improvements for vulnerable populations.
On her part, Dr. Vivien Otu highlighted that ongoing renovations at the Ikang facility are designed to optimize service delivery and create a more conducive medical environment for residents. She revealed that, through the direct support of Governor Bassey Otu, a 5KVA solar power system has been approved for the facility. This upgrade will permanently resolve electricity challenges in critical sections, including the labor ward, laboratory, reception area, and pharmacy.
However, the facility's challenges were also brought to the fore. The nurse-in-charge of the Ikang PHC identified inadequate staffing as their primary hurdle, noting that additional personnel are urgently needed to ease the burden on current staff and adequately meet patients' healthcare needs.
This joint inspection underscores a broader, collaborative push by health stakeholders and development partners to revitalize primary healthcare services and ensure rural communities across Cross River State have access to quality medical care.
By Asari Eso
