The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has been commended for her hardwork in the health sector by the Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon Dr Davies Etta, while seeking to collaborate with the Agency to enhance the quality of healthcare services in the state through the formation of policies and laws to meet globally competing and acceptable values.
The Chairman, Hon Dr Etta made the disclosure during a familiarisation visit to the Agency in Calabar to intimate the DG and her team of the new Committee members and the preparedness of the House to enhance legislation which will complement the efforts of the executives .
According to Dr Etta, the move will further help in salvaging some challenges faced in the state such as allocation and releases of budgets to the sector, turn out of eligible children during routine immunization, employment of health workers to mitigate the existing gap, intimidation of health workers among others.
In her response, DG, CRSPHCDA, Dr Janet Ekpenyong appreciated the house for their partnership with the executive which has further framed the state and remodelled it’s approaches in recent years.
She said, the harmonious relationship being envisaged will ascertain the pole position being held by the state on all health implementablepolicies of state, national and global policies geared towards a healthy society.
Dr Ekpenyong urged the House to help in facilitating the enactment of the Immunization bill which will compel parents and schools to compulsorily present immunization cards before Ward’s admission into schools.
She said the move will help in reaching the optimal immunization target per LGA and state’s routine target which has remained a challenge in some local government areas in the state.
She also appealed for their support to fastrack the ascent of the bill on the regulation of Traditional birth attendant (TBA) activities as well as other bills that will further strengthen the Agency.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary of the Agency thanked the chairman and other committee members, while also appealing for a further review of the law of the Agency.
Also in the entourage was the member representing Akpabuyo constituency, Dr Ekeng Edet , the secretary of the committee, Mr Kingsley and others.