Health Boss Harps On Accountability, Asset Management As NPHCDA Assists PHCs With Equipment
By Ogbu KOSY
Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk has called on health workers to imbibe the principles of accountability, effective asset management, monitoring and evaluation in the discharge of their duties for optimal service delivery in the healthcare sector of the State.
Dr. Ayuk, who made the call while addressing stakeholders, Saturday, during his inspection of equipment donated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to select Primary Health Facilities in Calabar South to cushion the damaging effect caused by the EndSars protest to facilities in the Area, maintained that it is incumbent on the State to make judicious use of all available resources for betterment of its citizens, hence the present administration's resolve to meticulously monitor the health sector to its minutest details.
He urged the relevant officials to take proper inventory and document every equipment sent to the five benefiting PHCs and ensure follow-up by monitoring and evaluation on their usage and management.
The Health Commissioner stated that the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration's 'People First' mantra would in due course deliver to Cross River a healthcare system where Cross Rivererians and residents of the State can truly access quality and affordable healthcare services.
"I expect us to show commitment towards service output in order to elicit further support from donors and partners," Dr. Ayuk stated.
In his remarks, NPHCDA's Cross River Coordinator, Mr. Julius Idoko, stated that items sent to the benefitting PHCs were done in strict compliance to needs assessment arising from the reports of effects of the EndSars protest on such facilities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Etim Ayi, thanked Dr. Ayuk for responding swiftly to the call to inspect such equipment even though he was yet to assume duty officially as Commissioner for Health.
The Permanent Secretary listed PHCs Henshaw Town, Moore Road, Nelson Mandela, Anderson and Anantigha as recipients of the equipment.
The Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Calabar South, Mr. Bassey Effiom thanked NPHCDA for the items and promised to put them to good use for the benefit of those seeking for medical attention from those facilities.
Items donated included mattresses, chairs, tables, generators, motorbikes, sanitary equipment, clinical apparatuses, gloves and other sundry items.
In a separate development, the Health Commissioner also attended the exit meeting of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) team, which was in the State on inspection of Colleges of Health and Midwifery/Nursing Science.
At the meeting held on Saturday in the conference hall of the College of Nursing Science, Calabar, the Commissioner assured the team of the present administration's determination to reposition the State, while promising to convey grey areas highlighted by the team to the Governor for necessary action.
The leader of the team, Mallam Samaila Tanko thanked the State Government for supporting them to go round the schools and accepting to attend to the recommendations from the NBTE team.
