At least 8000 residents and Cameroun Asylum Seekers of the eight border communities in up ranch belekete, Amana, utanga in Obanliku LGA, Danare 1&2 Bashua of Boki LGA, Ikom, Agbokim, Ajasor of Etung LGA and mfameyin, Ekang of Akamkpa LGA have benefitted from a 12 week long medical outreach set in place by SMOH, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency with support and facilitation by Nigerian Red Cross Society and United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) for warring communities and Refugees camp in Cross River State.
A team of medical experts from the CRSPHCDA, NRCS and UNFPA converged at the area for the outreach in which test and routine examination were carried out on the following services; Ante natal care, delivery, HIV and Tuberculosis, General OPD, Reproductive Health, CMR, Psychological support, Infectious Diseases Monitoring, Referrals and drug Administration. Diagnosis were also done for Malaria, Gastroenteritis/Diarrhea, Peptic Ulcer, Upper Respiratory and Track Infections.
Speaking, DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu said NRCS and UNFPA has been so committed to educating, informing and empowering warring communities with medical aid and swift response by supporting people by way of distribution of materials and other form of help. The have provided commodities and built capacity of our workers to respond to health challenges in selected PHCs
She said the outreach will enable the Agency meet their antenatal healthcare needs and assist those who have been molested in the course of the crisis by offering them psycho-social support and referral linkages.
She lauded UNFPA and NRCS for supporting the State with the response to medical care of the refugees in Cross River State.
One of the beneficiaries, attested to the quality of the services rendered and described it as divine intervention. "I am very happy because it is about progress of the people in the community. Today we have a new born baby in our family. They have checked my Blood Pressure and they asked me to reduce my sugar intake. I was also given drugs and a mosquito net. I encourage other organisations and politicians to come to the aid of our people because most of us do not have money as we escaped from war in southern Cameroon," he pleaded.
Speaking,UNFPA Represntative, Joachim Chijide said his organization will continue partnering with Cross River State and other relevant agencies to bring healthcare closer to the refugees as seen presently with the Medical outreaches across the affected areas he also noted that condom outlets have been set up to help refugees and residents access family planning and protective measures easily for free.
He called on more support at all levels to give priority to health as a healthy community is a developed community. "Government should give more priority to health. It is when people are healthy that they will think of moving the nation forward.
The Project Focal Person and Health Advisor of Nigeria Red Cross Society in the state, Dr Ernest Ochang said that the refugees' health condition was very poor, hence the need to intervene. " we are glad we could do this much with the state"
According to him Nigeria Red Cross Society is part of a global movement with more of humanitarian activities. We work in collaboration with UNFPA and Cross River State Government in where there is disaster, diseases, displacements from conflicts, and dehumanisation of human being.
He noted that the health need was seen as one of the most critical needs to be provided for the refugees and so the organization have provided Refugees with free treatment Cards' that would enable them to access free health services in any Primary Healthcare Centre they visit in the state.
The Primary Healthcare workers in the UNFPA and Red Cross facilities were advice to make reference to Secondary and General hospital of cases that requires more clinical attention.
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