The Cross River State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), has established a solar powered oxygen plant at the General Hospital, Calabar in southern Nigeria.
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The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk disclosed to journalists in Calabar during a conference to mark One hundred days in office of the present administration.
Dr. Ayuk said that the oxygen plant would serve the healthcare sector in Cross River and environs.
As part of measures to ensure effective healthcare delivery, Governor Otu has instituted transformational programmes that would enable us achieve universal coverage and make health services accessible and affordable.
“One of such measures taken through Oxygen Strengthening and Management. So, in collaboration with UNICEF, the Cross River State Government has established a solarized self-sustaining Oxygen Plant with an additional 150KVA generator.
“Although, the plant is yet to be commissioned, it is expected to produce Medical Oxygen for the entire healthcare delivery sector in Cross River State and environs. We all know how very important oxygen is to every living thing especially in the sector. This will put an end to the challenges of ‘no oxygen’ when needed,” he explained.
The commissioner, who noted that establishing an oxygen plant was Nigeria’s national policy on medical oxygen to ensure people have equitable access in health facilities,
“This will guarantee quality, availability and most importantly affordability for people who need oxygen. It is a life saving commodity and we now have one in Cross River State.”
The Gains
He said that the governor, in keeping with his campaign promises, was determined to reposition the entire healthcare sector from renovations at the primary health centres to the eighteen general hospitals including recruiting qualified personnel for efficiency.
Ayuk said, “The governor has engaged the services of additional doctors, pharmacists, science lecturers, nurse/midwife/public health lecturers to strengthen health facilities and boost Colleges of Nursing Sciences for accreditation by enhancing the libraries and laboratories with additional books and equipments.”
The commissioner also informed journalists that the Essential Drugs Store vandalized by hoodlums during the 2021Endsars protest has been renovated to grade ‘A’ standard for storage of medical commodities.
Other achievements, included the ongoing renovation and equipping of the Fistula Center in collaboration with UNFPA, completion of Phase 1 solar lighting at the general hospital, Calabar and renovation of the Tuberculosis reference laboratory, administrative block and provision of incinerator for management of medical waste at the Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar.
The Commissioner further stated that the Otu’s administration has completed the drilling of boreholes for PHC Ogboga, PHC Ibil and PHC Ekumtak and upgraded two facilities in hard-to-reach areas of old Ndebeji and Akor in Akamkpa local government area as well as built a staff quarters for the facilities.
Still other strides, Ayuk said included is upgrading of 191 health facilities through Basic Healthcare Provision Fund by National Primary Health Care Development Agency with revitalization of 196 Ward Development Committees (WDCs) across the State as the fourth level of care.
He hinted that the Cross River Health Insurance Scheme had been reviewed to provide free medical services to the core poor, pregnant women, children under five years and the elderly starting from ages 60 and above
“The Ministry of Health already conducted enrollment of 24,874 people on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Programme, 54 Primary Health Centres and 27 private health facilities were fully accredited for the programme.”
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