Charles Ekanem|14 August 2017
Association of Psychiatric Nurses of Nigeria (APNON) during their Award/ Dinner Dinner ceremony conferred on Her Excellency, Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade, House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon ( Dr) Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu Award of Excellence for their meritorious services to the development of mental health in Cross River State NegroidHaven can report.
Receiving the Award on behalf of Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade and herself, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong lauded APNON for the honoured bestowed on the Wife of the Governor and herself while assuring them that mental health will not be neglected and Governor's wife through her NGO; Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) have been carrying out sensitization across the State on many health issues which Mental Health is one.
Also, the Director General of CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu was presented with the Award of Excellence as the pillar of mental health development in recognition of her selfless service, contribution and excellent performance to the development and growth of mental health in Nigeria.
Responding, Dr Edu said all Stakeholders must work to ensure that we integrate mental health into Primary and Secondary health. This she said can be achieved by building capacity of health workers in the primary healthcare level to identify and handle minor mental health challenges in every facilities, while referring more complex cases to Psychiatry Hospital.
Other awardees included House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon (Dr) Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who thanked the psychiatric nurses for award and promised not to relent until universal healthcare coverage is achieve in Cross River State.
Honorable Commissioner of Education, Hon Godwin Ettah who is a nurse, Dr (Mrs) Chioma Gershom Bassey , Hon Etta Mbora, Elder stateman Gershom Davis were notable public figures honoured by the Psychiatric Nurses National Body.
Charles Ekanem
Is a Health Reporter
