Admin|3 May 2016|8:16am
Led by Mr Iyeme Efem, the Country Director of John Snow Incorporated visited the Director General of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Mrs. Betta Edu as part of their move to extend their scope of work in the state.
According to Mr Efem, John Snow Incorporated is a Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) which was launched in 2005 by President George W. Bush to reduce Malaria related mortality by 50 percent across the PMI-supported countries through a rapid scale up of four proven and highly effective Malaria prevention and treatment measures. They include, insecticide treated nets, indoor residual spraying, accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment with ACTs and intermittent preventive treatment prophylaxis.
He said their major concern are the Malaria initiative, Public health (that have to be with family planning and HIV and AIDS) and Recommitment of Cross River State to partner effectively with John Snow Incorporated.
He noted that Cross River State is one of the eleven states in Nigeria receiving support from PMI since 2011. In his words, "This support includes strengthening supply chain management (which Cross River State can generate income from through warehouse commercialisation), uninterrupted supply of Malaria commodities to 387 health facilities, provision and support for the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets LLINs, training for health workers and support for monitoring and evaluation systems including disease surveillance systems".
He intimated the DG of the CRSPHCDA, Dr. Edu, of the PMI team from USAID Washington and CDC Atlanta visit to Nigeria from April 22 to 6 May, 2016 to participate in the Malaria Operational Plan (MOP) consultative meetings and field tour which Cross River State is one of the places earmarked for the visit.
Responding to them, Dr. Edu thanked the PMI advanced team for always exhibiting interest in Cross River State irrespective of their challenges in the state.
She said the State Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade is very passionate about the health care of Cross Riverians and will always be willing to listen and accommodate any of their project or program that is beneficial to the people.
Dr Edu requested that logistic officers in the state be fully incorporated in field logistics of all comodities and partners must come together to seek ways in which we can merge logistics of all health commodities (whether Malaria, HIV, Reproductive health, medical consumables or any other commodity going to the health facilities). Finally, she reinstated the commitment of CRS Government to fight Malaria, HIV and AIDS, while increasing demand and supply of family planning services in the state.
They thanked the DG for her warn welcome and solicited that she will be part of their team meeting with the Governor next week.
Charles Ekanem
Media & Publicity Aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
