C’River achieves 35% & 28% reduction in maternal mortality and perinatal mortality at SMGL supported facilities!

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Peter Bassey|10 September 2017 
The first ever effective leadership; management and coordination of health care for Cross River State Ministry of Health and State Primary Health Care Development Agency organized by Pathfinder International has held at Le Meridian Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The Training which is solely targeted at top leadership of the Cross River State Ministry of Health and allied parastatals – CRSPHCDA and Health Management Board (HMB) is aimed at improving health outcome in Cross River State with a methodology of short lectures, case studies/video presentations as well as individual and group assignment has been declared open by Dr. Inyang Asibong, the Hon. Commissioner for health ably supported by her 2nd in command Dr. Betta Edu, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA).
Declaring the event open, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong said the State Government is appreciative of Pathfinder International involvement in building capacity of management cadre in the health sector of Cross River state. The workshop which is aimed at strengthening health systems and  producing better results will churn out great leaders who can carry others along to achieve set goals and objectives.
Meanwhile Dr. Farouk Jega, the country's Director of Pathfinder International in his opening remark expressed confidence with the Cross River State team especially in their leadership prowess and announced that the state has beat the bench mark set by Pathfinder International. His presentation showed that the target of USAID-funded Saving Mother Giving Life Interventions was to reduce maternal mortality by 15% and perinatal mortality by 10% form the base line studies done in 2015. However, he was happy to note that they had surpassed expectations by reducing maternal mortality by 35% and perinatal mortality by 28% in those SMGL supported facilities. This shows that SMGL interventions hold solutions to our problems if we scale up. 
While he acknowledged challenges in the country's health sector, which include politics, poor human resource, health governance/financing and government policies amongst others, Dr Jega said he has no cause for worry as this articulated and strategic training for Cross River State health stakeholders will manage those challenges eventually.
Dr Betta Edu, in her remarks said leadership drive of the state is undergoing some revolution with the coming of Governor Ben Ayade, who has questioned the status quo and empowered those under him to believe in infinite possibilities! She admonished those in the health sector to be more committed in achieving our ultimate goal which is universal Health coverage; providing health care for all in Cross River State. "let funding constraints never becloud your ability to make progress, get innovative, push the limitations, break boundaries and achieve targets".
Dr Joseph Bassey, Permanent Secretary SMOH, spoke on supervision and monitoring as well as AyadeCare. Other participants include Board Secretary CRSPHCDA, permanent secretary CRSPHCDA amongst others. 
Cross River State is having a set direction for transformational goals in the health sector.

Peter Bassey
Writes from Calabar