Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, will soon commission new obstetric and newborn equipment for selected general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities across the state to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit to the Primary Health Centre, Bendeghe Ekiem, in Etung Local Government Area, where he assessed the facility’s preparedness to receive the equipment.
Ayuk said the intervention was expected to improve the quality of healthcare available to pregnant women, nursing mothers and newborns, with benefits extending to both urban and rural communities across the state.
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness at the Bendeghe Ekiem facility, describing the visit as particularly significant because of his personal connection to the health centre.
“I am delighted with a visit to my home facility, the Primary Health Centre, Bendeghe Ekiem, in Etung LGA. Alongside other facilities, I am satisfied with the overall preparedness to receive the equipment,” he said.
He explained that the provision of obstetric and newborn equipment would strengthen the capacity of selected health facilities to provide essential maternal and newborn care, including services needed to improve outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth and the early stages of a child’s life.
The provision of the equipment, according to Ayuk, is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery across the beneficiary facilities by improving their capacity to provide essential obstetric and newborn care and respond more effectively to the health needs of mothers and infants.
The planned commissioning reflects the state government’s attention to healthcare infrastructure and service delivery, with the new equipment expected to enhance the capacity of beneficiary facilities to respond to maternal and newborn health needs.
The Commissioner said his visit to the Primary Health Centre, Bendeghe Ekiem, formed part of his assessment of facilities expected to benefit from the intervention, adding that he was satisfied with their level of preparedness to receive the equipment ahead of the planned commissioning.
By Kingsley Agim
