The wife of Cross River State Governor, Dr (Mrs). Linda Ayade, on Friday , flagged off the 2018 First Round Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in Ikom with a promise that the state is committed to fostering strong partnership with communities to ensure access of mothers and children to free medical outreaches and State Health Insurance Scheme (Ayadecare).
Speaking passionately during the event held at Comprehensive Health Centre, Ikom LGA, Dr Linda said the programme "was designed to deliver a weeklong integrated package of highly cost-effective, yet result-oriented preventive and curative services.
She disclosed that the administration of Governor Ben Ayade is leaving no stone unturned to see that the healthcare delivery system in the state becomes number one. "We are fostering strong partnership between government and communities to provide basic right to life for the mother and child through every possible means.
Dr Linda Ayade charged the people to take advantage of the maternal newborn and child health week by taking their wards to the nearest health facility to benefit from
immunization, vitamin A supplement, de-worming of children, use of oral rehydration salt with zinc for children and use of insecticide treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria amongt others.
Dr. Linda also added that the Free Medical Health Outreach by Exco wives forum will also complement the maternal new born and child health week by giving opportunities for people who cannot afford surgeries, eye lenses, drugs and other services to benefit.
The Cross River First Lady mandated mothers to take advantage of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme which is sustainable by enrolling to afford other health services with a token of 1,000 Naira.
Also Speaking, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong lauded the Governor wife and Exco Wives Forum for continuously organizing free medical outreaches across the State.
She said that through the support of His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade to Maternal Newborn Mortality, Cross River State have reached the milestone in effort to reduce the high rate of preventable deaths, with determination to do more and scale up some basic steps in the area of family planning, preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Betta Edu said due to the diligent support of the State Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade Cross River State has been rated high in healthcare delivery and immunisation in the country.
Dr Edu called on mothers with children below 5 years to go to health facilities. According to her the state target is to reach out to 1.2 million children and about 650,000 mothers with the support of Fathers, neighbours, community leaders and care-givers who have roles to play in mobilising and encouraging mothers to visit healthcare centres in the state.
She said there is a solid partnership between the state government, the Federal Government, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, WHO, UNICEF and the media in ensuring the maternal mortality is drastically reduced in Cross River State
Earlier Speaking, Vice President Executive Council Wives Forum, Deaconess Esther Obanghe-Osowo Osim Asu said free medical outreach program is one of the projects of the Governor's wife aimed at reaching out to the poor who cannot afford medical services.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Stella Orem Odey
said the wife of the governor is very passionate about the healthcare of the people and because of that she is here inperson to flag off the maternal newborn week and open the free medical services by exco wives forum.
The Governor wife was accompanied to the flag off by wives of serving commissioners, Her Special Adviser, Mrs Rosemary Eneji, Commissioner for Climate Change, Dr Alice ekwu, Mrs Philomina Inyang
Others included, Mr Julius Adie HOLGA Ikom, Paramount Ruler Representative, Ntufam Mayor Bakim.
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