Cross River Government Commends MSF, Welcomes New Healthcare Partner in Akamkpa Communities
By Ebi COLLINS
The Cross River State Government has commended Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for its years of dedicated service in providing healthcare facilities and life-saving interventions to the people of Akor and Old Ndebiji communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
The commendation was made during a recent handover ceremony where MSF formally transferred the management of its health facilities to the State Government, paving the way for a new partner, the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, to continue healthcare delivery in the communities.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, expressed gratitude to MSF for what he described as a “complete model of service delivery” that has met critical needs in hard-to-reach areas.
“Let me thank God for this very wonderful support we have received from MSF. They have been so wonderful. This model of service-giving is very complete and it is what we need in a developing country like ours, where hospitals are far and facilities like this become a lifeline at the community’s doorstep,” Dr. Ayuk said.
The Commissioner assured that the Otu-led administration remains committed to sustaining the facility, noting that many MSF staff have already been absorbed into the State’s health workforce. He further stressed that Governor Bassey Otu is restoring the confidence of international partners, many of whom are now returning to invest in the state’s health sector.
MSF Project Coordinator, Meria Nadje, said the organisation was proud to have contributed to improved access to healthcare in the state.
“For several years, we have worked closely with communities in Cross River to make healthcare accessible, especially for women and children, and the vulnerable population. This centre is a gift to Akor community and we are handing it over with confidence that it will be sustained for the benefit of the people,” Nadje stated.
Also speaking, the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, disclosed that the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation has been engaged to manage the facilities and expand primary healthcare services. She explained that while MSF services were completely free, the new arrangement will provide free care for pregnant women and children under five, with subsidized rates for others.
Tulsi Chanrai Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Shravan Kumar, assured residents of continuity and improved services.
“Our focus will be to provide free drugs and services for pregnant women and children under five. Other categories of patients will also receive care, but at a highly subsidised rate. We want to make healthcare affordable, accessible, and sustainable,” Kumar said.
The TCF CEO revealed that his organization will also integrate services such as eyesight treatment, and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs to the host communities.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, praised MSF for its outstanding contributions and expressed confidence in the capacity of the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation to deliver quality healthcare. He highlighted the Foundation’s record of upgrading hospitals and providing specialized services in Nigeria for over a decade.
Community representative, Ntufam Owor Okon Itogim, expressed appreciation to Governor Otu, the Health Ministry, and MSF for their intervention, pledging the continued cooperation of the people of Akor.
“We have supported MSF by protecting and maintaining this facility, and we will extend the same commitment to the new partners. As a community, we value this development and will work collectively to sustain it,” he said.
The ceremony ended with goodwill messages from stakeholders, all acknowledging MSF’s humanitarian impact while assuring Tulsi Chanrai Foundation of maximum support in carrying forward the legacy of quality healthcare delivery in Akamkpa communities of Akor and Opd Ndebeji and their neighboring villages.
