The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

Ayade Calls For Effective Data Management For Optimized Service Delivery In The Health Sector

By Simon Ushie

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has called for improved data management system in the health sector for optimized service delivery across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state and the country.

Senator Ayade was speaking during the flag off ceremony of the Community Health Management Information System in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital aimed at strengthing synergy between the State and Federal Government.

The Governor who was represented by the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong said, quality and precised data remains the bedrock of effective policy planning and implementation.

She said, the government of Cross River State have over the years leveraged on optimized data collection and synchronization using home grown principles which are relative to various Communities with best standard practices being upheld.

According to Dr Ekpenyong ” if we must have a working and formidable program and policies, we must ensure we generate quality and reliable data by taking advantage of programs like the Community Health Intervention Program (CHIPs), Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) which are designed to bridge health services delivery gaps and approaches at the grassroot, by creating demand for available health services at the health centers.
The CHIPS program is designed to ensure follow-up of pregnant women and children to access ANC services and immunization services respectively and other available services in the nearest facilities”.

The New comprehensive community health management information system (CHMIS) tool will help generate quality, timely and reliable data that will reveal gaps and where the state is doing well that will further inform decision and needed intervention.

She further maintained that quality data collated from communities will help address various challenges in the health sector while also appreciating the state governor for his selfless disposition towards the implementation of health policies and the improvement of healthcare delivery in the state. She also thanked the federal government for acknowledging that there are gaps in the current HMIS tools and for providing solution to tackle the gaps. She also appreciated them for picking Cross River State as one of the states to pilot the tool.
She encouraged those to be trained on the new tools to pay attention and be very involved as they will cascade all information and knowledge acquired to those in their LGAs.

In his response, the Honourable Minister of Health represented by Mrs Osindeinde Ademilayo, intimated that accurate data will bring to awareness various challenges faced by states and specific programs thereby helping in managing problems.
She reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the health system of the country by applying a bottom up approach.

In his remark, a consultant in the Federal Ministry of Health on Community Health Management Information System, Dr Nathaniel Afolabi disclosed that, the Ministry will partner with the state government in training Facilitators on quality data collection and implementation processes for basic programs in the state.

He said, with collaborations with UNICEF , the Ministry will undergo preliminary training in three selected Local Government Areas namely, Boki, Odukpani and Obudu on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in preparation for field exercise for selected diseases and outbreaks.

“The aims and roles of CHMIS is to provide data for informed Community decision making, as well as promote community ownership of health intervention and help monitor progress. It is aimed at encouraging pregnant women on the importance of Antenatal care to eradicate maternal mortality and other common diseases around us”.

He further added that the Scheme will help incorporate data in Communities and bring them up among Community workers which are more reliable, with tendency towards improving efficiency for effective decision making.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Cross River State, Dr Iwara Iwara, stated that tools are to be used at the community level noting that Participants are to be trained because without adequate data from the source, there will be no accurate data at the State level; therefore urging everyone to maintain attentiveness so as to arrive at appropriate and accurate data and to cascade the knowledge gain to the community.

A Representative of UNICEF, Dr Olusoji Akinleye emphasized the importance of quality data as a tool for advocacy and decision making, encouraging the participants to prioritize the training as it will help the state achieve reliable data.

Also present were members from Federal Ministry of Health, Cross River State Ministry of Health,, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Dr Fatima of UNICEF who immensely contributed their quota for the success of the programme.
High point of the event was the official Flag-off of the training by His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade ably represented by the Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong.

Globally, Data is said to be the focal agent of change, planning, development in every field of endeavor comprising of selective methods including processes of Data Collected, Data reporting, data analysis and implementation. The pilot will be in three LGAs as plans are in the way for scale up to other LGAS in the state.

June 30, 2022
Nko – Oyadama Crisis: Nko Elders calls On International Organizations, Human Right Activists, NGOs, The Ministry Of Humanitarian Affairs, NEMA And SEMA To Come To Their Aid

Gentlemen of the press

We, as citizens of Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State in Nigeria deem it necessary to call for this press conference to inform you of the happenings and havoc perpetrated by the Nigerian Army on our people.

While we appreciate the early intervention of the State Government and Security Agencies, particularly the Nigeria Army on the conflict between our community (Nko) and Onyedama community, we disagree with the way the crisis is being managed by the Army. Their approach is unethical and unprofessional.

While we support every responsible and meaningful effort towards maintaining lasting peace in the area, we call on the State Government and the military authority to stop the raid in Nko community.

We welcome the decision of the State Government to take over the parcel of land in question, Government should take adequate possession of the said land by using the land effectively so that further crisis may not arise.

As a community, we cannot and will never organize any form of conflict against anyone or group of persons.

We won’t even contemplate any attack on the military. It is however, regrettable that this military action in the community has largely rendered the entire indigenes of Nko homeless, beginning from Saturday, June 24, 2022 to this moment.

Carnage has been exercised in arson, rape and shooting at sight of persons. Beyond these, our women have been thoroughly brutalized in very dehumanizing forms.

The security situation in Nko community has remained tensed and fragile. For more than five days running, many people have been killed through shooting at sight and a lot more wounded, properties that cannot be quantified at the moment have been destroyed.

The military personnel have wrecked havoc on the local populace, killing helpless persons, arresting some and introduced a reign of terror in the area.

Women and children have abdicated their
homes to take refuge in unknown locations, suffering the harsh effects of the associated weather with the rainy season.

While we are not challenging the authority of government, it is our candid opinion that the soldiers be stationed at the said boundary between the two communities. Our community is under siege.

The four secondary schools in Nko community are involved in ongoing NECO examination nationwide, the students as we are talking cannot go to school nor write the exams. This is appalling and would definitely have effect on our growing youths.

Our children generally, by this action have been denied their right to education as they cannot continue their learning in an unsafe environment.

There are some elderly and aged men and women, pregnant and sick people that have been abandoned in their homes devoid of care, because their care givers have fled from the community for their safety.

The elders are languishing and dying of hunger because there is no food, no water to drink and no body to take care of them for the past five days.

At this point, we the people of Nio remain very grateful to all the communities and individuals that have come to assist our suffering people.

We appreciate their benevolence and sense of love.
The Nigeria public is hereby requested to show empathy in form of providing welfare for the displaced homeless people.

We are therefore calling on International Organizations, Human Right Activists, NGOs the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, NEMA, SEMA and other bodies to come to our aid. We are crying aloud.

While we thank His Excellency, our amiable governor, Prof Ben Avade for his quick intervention and the action taken So far, we as a community are appealing and pleading that the military high command should please remove the prey personnel from Nko Community, the continuous stay of the military in the community will not help to bring peace to the area.

Thank you and remain blessed.

June 29, 2022
Sen Jarigbe Agom Facilitates The Completion Of Aladim Road To Ekwaro Junction

The senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has facilitated the completion the Aladim – Ekwaro road.

The road which links Aladim in Nkum Clan to Ekwaro in Ekajuk, leads to Mfom I along Abakiliki high way.

This project will add the list of numerous projects facilitated by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, whose joy to give effective representation to his people through constitituency development projects.

This follows the offloading of cement for the construction of the road.

June 29, 2022
Nko-Oyadama Crisis: Sandy Onor Regrets The Effect On Nko People, Calls On All Parties Involved In The Unfortunate Development To Cease Fire Immediately And Allow The Rule Of Law To Prevail

Press Statement

It is disheartening and highly regrettable that the persistent and unmitigated crisis between the Nko people of Yakurr Local Government Area and their Onyadama neighbours in Obubra Local Government Area has snowballed into the destruction of lives and property.

This ugly situation which has recently, so badly affected the people of Nko and their means of livelihood is to say the least, extremely sad. I call on all parties involved in the unfortunate development: the military, Nko and Onyadama people to cease fire immediately and allow the rule of law to prevail.

At this time when we are facing the most difficult economic situation in our nation’s history; when issues of development and improved livelihood are at the core of governance, people should not be seen engaging in this sort of inhumanity.

I strongly request that all legal processes that will lead to a resolution and reconciliation of the issues at stake should be put in place immediately, so that all involved would return to their normal lives and continue their businesses without any threat and harassment.

I also urge all relevant stakeholders to make themselves available to all processes geared toward bringing a lasting solution to the crisis, as we pledge to do all within our means to provide a secure and free society for our people.

Thank you.

Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor
Senator Rep. Central Senatorial District
Cross River State.

June 28, 2022
Minister Hails Staff For Bagging ‘Best Performing Civil Servants’ Of The Year Awards

The Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR has hailed
Mrs. Nwachukwu Faustina and Mr. Sunday Itime, both civil servants attached to his office for bagging the Ministry’s Senior and Junior Staff Best Performing Staff awards.

The awards were presented to them by the permanent Secretary, Engr. Nebeolisa Anako, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Power in a ceremony held at the Ministry’s conference hall few days ago to mark this year’s Civil Service week.

While Nkwachukwu received the Best Performing Senior Senior Staff of the year award, Itime was awarded as the Ministry’s overall best performing junior staff.

The Minister, in a brief ceremony held in his office to receive the awardees, commended them for being good ambassadors of his office and showing good example to others.

Jedy-Agba said that he wasn’t surprised that they were singled out for the recognition as he has been very impressed with their commitment and dedication to work since he assumed office.

According to him, “I want to congratulate you for the awards. As I always admonish all of you, a lot of people out there are watching you. I’ve been watching you as well and I can say that the awards are very deserving. I thank you for being good ambassadors of this office”.

He encouraged them that “every opportunity you get to serve, serve with all your heart. Be very committed. Don’t say it’s government work, you can do anyhow. There’s dignity in service and serving deligently pays, I’m a living testimony”.

Reflecting on the award, Nwachukwu who spoke for herself and Itime, said that they were a reflection of what the Minister represents and promised to continue to remain dedicated to service.

She said that “we dedicate the awards to the Honourable Minister because we were able to achieve the honour because of what we’re learning from him. The truth is that, staff are always a reflection of their principals so, if our Boss was someone that shows nonchalant attitude to work, it would have reflect on us.

In the past three years, we’ve learned a lot from him. The Minister is always the first to come to work and the last to leave. Even when he’s down in health, he’ll still struggle to come to work. We’ve had the privilege to work with many Ministers but the experience with him is different. We’re grateful to him and the management of the ministry this huge recognition”.

June 28, 2022
USAID Commends CRSG As Health Partners Seeks Approaches Towards Equitable Distribution Of Vaccines Across The State

By Simon Ushie

As part of approaches aimed at ensuring effective and efficient health service delivery in the State, Health Care Partners are seeking collaborations with the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for equitable vaccines distributions.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) teamlead, Dr Abujo Kalajuo made the disclosure in Calabar, during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong noting that, such intervention will put an end to vaccine hesitancy and stock out in the state.

He said, building an effective supply and distribution chain in Local Government Areas will promote prompt and timely access to various vaccines and present them to Cross Riverians in their most active states.

He further maintained that, all Health care Partners ought to collaborate with willing government agencies and States to ensure that a deliberate mechanism in implemented for all facilities to be covered as he commended His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade for his investment in the health sector and ensuring vaccine equity in the state . He also applauded the state for being flexible and adjusting to partner’s demand for the benefit of the state.

In her response, the Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, felicitated with the group for their visit noting that the state is always willing and ready to partner with groups for the overall interest of the state and nation.

Dr Ekpenyong disclosed that, the state boast of a standard and centralized Cold Chain facility in Calabar Metropolis where we ensure vaccines are stored in their most potent form.

She noted that there are Zonal Cold chain facilities in Ikom to carter for those in the Central Senatorial District and Ogoja Store for those in the Northern District with Mini Cold Chain facilities in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state, which are well managed and maintained.

She therefore requested the group support towards vaccines carriers and refrigerators for baking ice packs to
maintain vaccine potency all the way to the last mile adding that, with the epileptic power supply in the country, the state is faced with seeking more expensive alternatives to ensure viability of vaccines all year round.

“As a state we are committed to vaccine safety, efficacy and equitable distribution, as we have our Cold chain well functional here in Calabar, and other zonal Cold chain stores for easy access by local government areas, we need the refrigerators to make sure our vaccines remain potent. She also informed the team on the plans of the state to integrate services and seeked their support to leverage on available community volunteers to serve as CHIPS Agents. She used the opportunity to intimate them on the recently launched the CHIPS program and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund programme. The CHIPS Agents will help us ensure we provide integrated services including OBR, OPV, HIV, Covid-19, etc and ensure there’s demand creation for facility utilization, especially for women during pregnancy and delivery.
Some of our major challenges are issues of data collection after vaccination, we
seek assistance in the areas of data reconciliation, health workers and volunteers training, ultra cold chain equipment installation to manage the quantity and quality of vaccines”.
She also requested for USAID to support the state with HiV testing kits as alot of pregnant women are not tested when they visit facilities for ANC. She said the state has made progress in the fight against HIV/AIDs and it will be important to sustain the gains.

Another respondent from the USAID team, Mr. Obianeri Victor (PMS – L & SC), acknowledged the Agency which has always been the first point of calls for health care service delivery and emergencies sequel to any diseases outbreak, as such, PHCs must be well equipped and vaccines put in place and stored properly properly.

Also speaking, a Deputy Director oftheAgency and HIV/AIDs focal person Mrs. Ekaette Ekpenyong, on her part also seek for support in providing HIV testing kits and help pushing of vaccines to all LGAs especially in hard to reach areas.

Mrs. Utiung, Nutrition focal person also added that nutritional supplement should be made available in all PHCs as it concerns orphan and vulnerable children and pregnant women as good nutrition leads to good health and growth.

Also, in attendance were Director, Community and Family Health SPHCDA,Mrs Sally Enyim, programme officers and Implementing Partners like Heartland Alliance, FHI 360, Breakthrough Action, CCRN, and others who in their contributions added a plus to the way forward of the State Health sector.

June 28, 2022
Oyadama-Nko Crisis: Former Presidential Aide, Obono-Obla Calls For The Suspension of Obubra And Yakurr Council Chairmen

The former Presidential Aide to Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Obono-Obla has called on Governor Ben Ayade to invoke the power vested on him by the Cross River State Local Government Law to direct the suspension from of office the Chairmen of Obubra and Yakurr local government councils following the renewed communual crisis between Oyadama in Obubra local government, and Nko in Yakurr local government area.

Obono-Obla took to his verified Facebook page to make the call “I call on the Governor of Cross River State to immediately invoke the power vested in him by the Cross River State Local government Law to direct the suspension from office of the Chairmen of Obubra and Yakurr local government councils.

This call has become imperative following the breakdown of law and order arising from the inter-communal violence that has wreaked part of Obubra and Yakurr local government areas of Cross River State.

The violence in these two communities has led to deaths and wanton destruction of property.
Nko has been under unrelenting attacks from soldiers posted there to maintain the peace.
Indeed Nko has been completely deserted and turned into a ghost town, and the population is internally displaced.

I urge the Governor of the Cross River State Law to invoke section 11 of the Cross River State Local government Law and direct the suspension of these chairmen.
The law empowers the Governor to direct the suspensions of the Chairman of a local government council that suffers a breakdown of law and order.

Indeed there has been such a breakdown of law and order in Onyedama (Obubra local government area ) and Nko(Yakurr local government area )for the past week.

“The suspension will send a clear and firm signal to the Chairmen of local government councils in the State to sit down and work and stem inter-communal violence that is a recurring decimal in some parts of the State.”

June 28, 2022
C’River Water Board Staff Protests Reinstatement Of MD, Barricades Premises

Culled From Vanguard by Uche Ikechukwu, Calabar

There was mild drama on Monday in Calabar following the protest by Staff of Cross River Water Board Limited, CRSWBL, as they barricaded the entrance of their premises to protest the reinstatement of the Managing Director, Mr Victor Ekpo.

The protesters carried various placards with inscriptions like ” Ekpo’s reinstatement would further worsen the “near comatose” water board, “Ekpo’s return would be a Disaster” “The former MD’s style is inhumane ” ” He will kill us all this time “

Others include: “Don’t bring back Ekpo”, “Cross River Water board is dead completely”, “Cross River Water board staff cries for help” and Ekpo doesn’t have what it takes to manage water board amongst others.

The workers told Vanguard that Mr. Ekpo first stint as the Managing Director, did not only plunge the company into debt of over 800 million but also failed to provide portable drinking water to the people.

The workers who also alleged that Ekpo high-handedness was unacceptable added that he (Ekpo) lacked the managerial skills to manage the Corporation.

Speaking with Com. Okoi Inyang, State Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, who spoke on behalf of the protesting workers, disclosed that the debt profile of the utility company currently stood at over N800 million.

His words : “We are over 600 staff across the nine water stations across the State and we are here saying, we don’t want Ekpo as our Managing Director again.

“What had been his impact to water board? Since March 2021, our intake pump broke down and have not been replaced since; as such, we have not provide clean and potable water to the people since then.

“Rather than fixed the problem, he (Ekpo) went to sink boreholes in two of our stations just to provide skeletal services to the people.

“As we speak, these boreholes have also broken down. This is the same situation in the nine other stations.

“The board is owing contractors who supply chemical and other inputs over N800 million while staff are also been owed entitlements running into millions of Naira, yet, he collects monthly impress of N4 million,” he said.

Inyang further explained that they were not against the government appointing a Managing Director, but it should not be Ekpo.

“We want a technocrat who can turn around the fortune of the board and not Ekpo who knows nothing about managing a corporation like this,” Inyang said.

When contacted, the reinstated Managing Director, Cross River state water Board Limited, Victor Ekpo attributed the resistance of the workers to his appointment to his stance against corruption in the board.

He maintained that through his managerial ability and prudent management of scare resources, he raised the revenue profile of the board from N600, 000 to N9.6 million monthly.

“Our wage bill was about 40million and we were generating barely 600, 000 naira when I came as Managing Director , but I raised that to about 9.6 million monthly, this I achieved within 8 months and i have also been able to fight, headon, the corruption level at the board.

“This is what they are against; they want things to continue in the old order and I am determined to fight this and resuscitate the board to the level of delivery water to the people of Cross River,” he said.

Vanguard learned that Ekpo had earlier resigned his position as Managing of the Water Company to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Cross River Southern senatorial district and his reinstatement has been approved by Gov Ben Ayade.

June 28, 2022
C’River Govt Commends World Bank APPEALS Project, Says The Intervention Is A life Changing Scheme

Cross River State Government says its agriculture-driven growth, poverty reduction, and food security has greatly improved through the State Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (CR-APPEALS) Project.

The project which is a World Bank-assisted agro-based value chains interventions in Cross River has changed lives and livelihood of citizens in agriculture, Small Scales businesses and other value chain infrastructures.

Speaking during the flagg-off of the 8th Implementation Support Mission (ISM) of the APPEALS Project, in Calabar, the Chairman of Project’s State Steering Committee and Deputy Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ivara Esu said after the last Implementation Support Mission,improvements have been recorded.

The Chiarman who spoke through the Cross River State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, stated that the exhibition stands at the event is a testimony to the success story and life-changing opportunities the CR-APPEALS Project has achieved.

“With the support of the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria, indigenes of the State have benefitted a lot from the project,with the success stories recorded in almost all the value chains of cocoa, poultry, rice, as well as cassava and aquaculture.

“Apart from the rich array of products on display at the exhibition center, the availability of a mini library which is stocked with newsletters, pamphlets, standard procedure manual in the manufacturing and processing industry in the State, offers stakeholders, participants and guests a comprehensive overview of the Project’s achievements in Cross River State” he explained.

Speaking on the Mission Objectives, the World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL), Dr. Tunji Oredipe called on the CR-APPEALS team to step up on the gas peddle in the utilization of available funds for effective projection implementation in the State.

Dr. Oredipe, represented by the World Bank’s Senior Social Development Specialist, Prof. Oluleayode Taiwo, also stressed on the importance of documentation of all transactions made, as accountability remains the Bank’s core.

In his keynote address, the National Project Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Jobdi, who posited that the essence of the biannual mission was to review the implementation status of the project in various states, also lauded CR-APPEALS for the ‘appreciable progress’ made so far in the different value chains, women and youths, infrastructure, and other components of the project.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Coordinator, CR-APPEALS, Dr. Marcel Agim commended the World Bank and the National Project Coordination Office for the tireless efforts to see that the Project remained in shape.

In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Jacob Udida, opined that Cross River remains the only State among the APPEALS Project States in Nigeria to have a poultry cluster of over forty thousand (40,000) birds are being nursed to enhance the poultry value chain with the support of Governor Ben Ayade.

June 26, 2022
National Social Register: Cross River Scores High, Receives World Bank Commendation

Cross River State has been commended as one of the best states in Nigeria to have performed above expectations in the National Social Register Scheme aimed at reducing poverty indices and improving livelihood of the state’s populace.

The Commendations came from the World Bank to the Federal Government of Nigeria, for prioritising the National Social Register (NSR), where Cross River emerged as one of the best states In Nigeria at the close out ceremony of the project on the 10th of June 2022.

The multilateral institution described the NSR is a credible building block for social intervention, noting that it was committed to partnering with the federal government to strengthen the Register.

The Word Bank said the programme provides a potent mechanism of achieving President Muhammadu Buhari’s target of taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

The State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, while appreciating the World Bank for recognising the work done in Cross River opined that the report further underlines the astute response by Governor Ben Ayade administration to capturing seven hundred and eighty four thousand three hundred and ninety seven (784,397) poor and vulnerable individuals from one hundred and sixty five thousand two hundred snd seventy (165,270) households across its 18 local government areas using multiple mechanisms.

The Commissioner explained that the State is placed well on its solid foundation way to reducing its poverty indices and improving the livelihood of the state’s population.

Asibong said state government led by Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade also placed a premium on job creation through its industrialization drive and infrastructural development.

The National Safety Nets Project (NASSP), National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO)/ World Bank Stakeholders Outreach on the NSR which held recently in Abuja had in attendance the Regional Director, Human Development, Rena Ringold; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo; the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; and the National Coordinator, NASSCO, Mr. Iorwa Apera.

So far, the NSR has covered over 48 million individuals, more that 11.6 million households, 134,103 communities, over 8,000 federal electoral wards as well as 752 local governments across the country. Based on the estimated number of poor Nigerians in the country, Mr. Iorwa Apera, in a presentation, pointed that the register already captured over 70% of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) while only 22 out of the 774 local councils are yet to be captured.

June 26, 2022