361,127 Children, 900,000 Mothers To Benefit From The Health Christmas Package In Cross River

By Emmanuel Onwuka

The Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has officially flag-off the maternal newborn and child health week.

This is an effort by the state government to bring down by 50% the national under-5 mortality in Cross River State.

The campaign is a health christmas bonus package for women and children to help tackle the issue of malnutrition and under-5 mortality across the state.

Flagging of the campaign, the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu disclosed that there would be screening for malnutrition to provision of nutritional supplements for women and children to antimalarials bed nets, deworming tablets, HIV test and lots more.

Dr Edu lauded the efforts of traditional, religious leaders, community leaders and development partners for their doggedness and resilience towards the promotion of health care for the people of the State.

She further stated, “The Government of Senator Prof Ben Ayade is committed to ensuring that the well being of every child and mother is of outmost importance to the state”.

“We are looking at 361,127 children under 5 years in Cross River State. We are also targeting over 900,000 mothers within the reproductive age. The package is completely free and safe”.

“Cross River State by UNICEF was rated the state with the best survival rate in Nigeria. The under-5 mortality rate in Cross River State is about 127 per 100,000 life births, however this is like the best in Nigeria and is below the National average”.

“So children born in Cross River State are more likely to survive than children born in anywhere else in Nigeria”. Dr Betta said

Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong in her remarks commended the Governor for his show of concern and support to ensuring that the lives of children and mothers are not overlooked in the state.

Dr Ekpenyong called on Cross Riverians to come out in mass and benefit from this exercise, especially those in rural areas in the eight local government that has the highest burden of maternal mortality and under-5 death in Cross River State.

Highlight of the event was the official flag-off present by the Deputy Governor’s Representative Dr Betta Edu and DG CRSPHCDA Dr Janet Ekpenyong.