72 HOUR PHC MAKEOVER CHALLENGE: NIGERIAN ARMY TAKES THE CHALLENGE TO FIX EKPRI IKOT ENE HEALTH POST IN AKPABUYO LGA

As part of the Nigerian Army's corporate social responsibility, the 13 Brigade headquarters, Calabar is to partner with the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in fixing a dilapidated Ekpri Ikot Ene in Akpabuyo LGA within 72 hours.

This was made known in a letter written and duly signed by Captain DT Popoola to the Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu, notifying her of the 13 Brigade's willingness to partner with the agency's vision of revitalizing and fixing dilapidated healthcare facilities across the state under the 72 hour PHC Makeover challenge.

In the letter, Capt. Popoola reiterated that it was necessary for the Nigerian Army to carry out a project aimed at strengthening civil military relation within host communities as Exercise CROCODILE SMILE III begins in earnest. He therefore, requested the cooperation of the Agency in ensuring the successful rehabilitation of the health post.

The elated midwife of 72 hour PHC makeover challenge and the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu, in her usual manner, heartily accepted Nigerian Army's proposal to renovate Ekpri Ikot Ene and promises to give maximum support and cooperation towards successful completion of rehabilitating the health post within 72 hours. 

Dr. Edu hinted that the Government of Prof Ben Ayade will work with any interested partner to fix the health centers, she also said that the employment process begins immediately. she hopes that she can fix PHCs across the state with the Governors 72 hours fix a PHC  project hoping that by the time we are done, we would have ended up fixing more of these dilapidated healthcare facilities in Cross River". 

After a carefully thought, Dr Edu has called for more stakeholders' participation so at the end of the day, 72 hour PHC makeover challenge which has become a reality to be admired by all and sundry will benefit . I am happy that even the military is keying into this noble project and wish to express my profound gratitude to the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar and the Chief of Army Staff while also imploring other military forces, multinational cooperation, paramilitary, corporate bodies to partner with 72 hour PHC makeover challenge and uplift, revitalize and fix our primary healthcare facilities in Cross River state.