Coco-Bassey Esu|10 July 2016|7:00AM
Cross River State emerged winner from the south south states after a rigorous selection process to join other five states(Abia, Kaduna, Niger, Oyo and Sokoto) beneficiaries to benefit from MTN Maternal Ward Support Initiative.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, while signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Ministry of Health commended MTN for the initiative and for seeing Cross River State worthy after the rigorous bidding process.
Dr Asibong said "with the unwavering commitment by His Excellency, the Governor, Senator Benedict Ayade in promoting health tourism, our way of service charter and our performance for the last one year that has been guided by the state strategic Health Development Plan resulted in our bidding success as no foundation, developers nor donors will want to invest in a vacuum. The State Government will continue to invest in and deliver high quality human and environmentally friendly infrastructure in the health sector relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) '.
The Commissioner assured the MTN FOUNDATION that the full benefits of the investment will be achieved as the state ministry of Health will adopt the policy of clinical governance to maintain the equipment after renovation and installation.
Earlier in his address, the Director, MTN FOUNDATION, Mr Dennis Okoro informed that renovation work will begin in four hospitals across the state: General Hospital in Calabar, Obanlikwu, Ugep and Ogoja following the recent bidding with the MTN FOUNDATION, with the first phase which is for renovation that will last for 4 weeks and the installation of equipments which is the second phase that will last for two weeks.
The MTN FOUNDATION said each maternal wards will be equipped with 20 Hospital beds with cardiac rest, 20 standard hospital mattresses, 20 standard hospital pillows, 10 four way foldable ward screens, 20 metal bedside cupboards, 20 visitor chairs, 10 drip stands, 20 hydraulic over bed tables, 10 height adjustable baby cots and two Carl Novel baby incubation.
The Maternal Ward Support Initiative is aimed at complementing the National objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.
Coco-Bassey Esu
Is the media aide to the Honourable Commissioner for Health, CRS
