Charles Ekanem|8 July 2016|10:10am
The great efforts of the wife of the Governor Dr. Linda Ayade through her health projects in the state has attracted many international and national attention and benefits to CRS.
"We learnt you directly handle the state malaria elimination program, Fyodor Biotechnologies wishes to partner with the Wife of Governor and CRSPHCDA to introduce our new Urine Malaria Test Kit ".
Fyodor Biotechnologies Corporation on Monday visited the Director General CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu, in her office. The visit was to introduce a new method of testing for Malaria to the agency as the company seek to partner with CRSG to make their product a viable option to the people. The team had earlier visited the office of Wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade were the Special Adviser, Mrs Rosemary Eneji received them on behalf of the state First Lady.
Speaking, Nigerian representative of the Maryland based USA company Dr Victoria Enwemadu, Pharm.D. Global Head, Project said they are in the State to introduce "Urine Malaria Test (UMT) which is a simple one step test with no blood, no reagents, no equipment. According to her, the performance of the UMT was evaluated in a pivotal clinical trial in Nigeria and over 2000 participants were enrolled in primary health centers in three study groups. She also noted that UMT is approved by NAFDAC and that the Federal Ministry of Health has supported the UMT product validation.
Responding, Dr Betta Edu, the DG CRSPHCDA said eliminating Malaria is one of the core program and objective of the present administration. She intimated them of several Malaria interventions in the state supported by the state Governor Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade which includes Statewide Distribution of Long lasting Insecticides Treated Nets, Rapid Diagnostic Kit for Malaria and Free Malaria Treatment in health facilities across the state.
She further discussed the Hunt Malaria Initiative program of Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade in public schools in Cross River State which is targeted at enrolling young ambassador that will take the message to every home and community. She said the new Malaria Test Kit which requires less skill can be effectively taught to children in schools and used by almost everyone in the communities. She also noted that it supports the task shifting policy of the FG which allows staff with less skills to have additional responsibilities where there is paucity of workers.
She tasked the company to see how they can develop capacity of health workers (CHEWS/JCHEW) on the new Malaria test system and give donations of the kits to the wife of the governors Hunt Malaria Programme in the state.
The team later paid a similar courtesy call to the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Dr Inyang Asibong to brief her on the new innovation.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
