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Tag: #Janet Ekpenyong

  • CRSPHCDA Janet Ekpenyony Gets African Student’s Union Outstanding Leadership Award

    CRSPHCDA Janet Ekpenyony Gets African Student’s Union Outstanding Leadership Award

    By Simon Ushie

    The African Student’s Union has presented an award of outstanding leadership to the Director General of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, the speaker of the African Student Union Parliament, Honourable Temple O, listed Dr Janet Ekpenyong as one of the youngest and most influential, hardworking administrator in the African continent who have identified with students across board offering mentorship and material supports to encourage young people chase their dreams and impact meaningfully to the African continent.

    His words “We have seen and heard about the innovative ideas you have introduced into the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency, we hear of your humanitarian gestures as well, we have seen you Cross Rivers and climb heels in the course of your duty and that shows uncompromising leadership quality in you, we will continue to let the world know that people like you still exist.

    “The little things you do and think they don’t count have touched the lives of people within and outside your community”

    On her part, the awardee thanked the group for finding her worthy of this year’s leadership award against all odds, she further charged them to pay better attention to their academic pursuits in order to bring greater and better changes to the African continent and develop the region.

    “I feel honored and proud to receive this leadership award and recognition from you and the group, you are a group that have shown impartiality, never compromised and well briefed about the activities of professional in all 53 African countries.

    “Every opportunity I have to serve, I do it without contemplating about it, and that is why, when I was appointed as the DG of the state Primary Healthcare Agency, I felt it’s a larger platform to touch the lives of those especially in the grassroot and that is what I have been doing, I won’t rest on it until more lives are touched.

    “I wish to encourage you all and all young people to continue to put in their best to actualize their goals in life so that we can have new breeds of African leaders who will transform our continent into a first world country based on sound and innovative thinking.

    “I’m proud that young people are now thinking out of the box by shying away from acts that can hamper their growths and development, am super proud that it’s in my lifetime that Africa and Africans are now being sort after”.

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    The African Student Union Parliament is the umbrella body that covers all students within the 54 recognized African countries with core objectives of encouraging cooperation harmonious coexistence among member state’s students .

  • Ekpenyong Charges Women To Stop Stigmatization Against Those Abused To Encourage Victims To Speak Out .

    Ekpenyong Charges Women To Stop Stigmatization Against Those Abused To Encourage Victims To Speak Out .

     

    With increasing figures of gender based violence in the society, and the discrimination that accompanies it, women across various professional bodies and interest groups are rising up in defense of those who do not have a voice to speak out for themselves.

    Some people have identified discrimination and “shaming” as some barriers hindering women from reporting cases of abuse both sexually, physically and even emotionally.

    It is on this premise that interest groups and individuals have risen to seek collaborative ways between themselves on how to support the female gender in expressing the deep pains they go through which may seem difficult for the society to understand.

    One of such forum organized to seek ways of helping these categories of oppressed people in the society, had the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong calling for an end to stigmatization of abused women to encourage them speak out.

    The DG was speaking at an advocacy meeting and training workshop organized by the “Gender And Development Action” which is aimed at creating political relevance to issues of gender based violence and violence against women and girls in calabar, the Cross River State Capital.

    Dr Ekpenyong said the need to tolerate women and victims who have suffered maltreatment has become imperative in order to encourage women speak out at various forums when molested either psychologically, emotionally or even physically.

    “If we don’t stigmatize women who have been abused or even those still being abused on a daily basis, I think more women will come out and speak out, they just need that acceptance, and that will surely be the beginning of their healing process”.

    She hailed the efforts of the Cross River State Governor to create a gender balanced society through his numerous appointments of women into key and sensitive positions which has proven that women too can be problem solvers and not just another burden to men.

    Dr. Ekpenyong further Enumerated efforts taken so far by her Agency(Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency) in assisting victims which she listed as, assisting victims to file complain with the law enforcement Agencies, free counselling, examination and treatment of victims with history of sexual violence as well as referrals for complicated cases.

    She therefore pledged her support and willingness to partner groups and bodies to ensure that cases of molestation are reduced to the barest possible points.

    Some other speakers who spoke called on the Cross River State House of Assembly to pass bills into law aimed at defending the female gender, sensitize women on their roles including ownership of properties ,improved education for the girl child as well as creating easy route for reporting and defending oppressed women in the society.

    In attendance were the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Nigeria’s Former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Representative of Female Lawyers Association, Wives of Local Government Chairmen, Director of Community Health, CRSPHCDA, Director of Local Government Health Authority (Calabar Municipal and Calabar South), Heads of Gender based NGOs as well as some media practitioners.

  • CRSPHCDA And Biase LGC To Advance Grassroot Healthcare Services

    CRSPHCDA And Biase LGC To Advance Grassroot Healthcare Services

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Biase Local Government Area council is set to collaborate to advance quality and effective Healthcare delivery in the council.

    The collaboration is aimed at fostering harmony and delivering best Healthcare services to those in the grassroot in line with the vision of his Excellency, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade to provide effective Healthcare for all citizens.

    The resolve for synegy was reached at Biase Local Government council when the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Janet Ekpenyong led a delegation from her office on a working visit to the Chairman, Hon. Mrs Ada Charles to familiarize with her and to discuss ways of partnership in promoting health services in the grassroot and the entire local government area.

    Dr Ekpenyong disclosed that, since the establishment of the state primary health care agency in 2016, more communities and people have now gained first hand access to health Facilities and services which has checked mortality rate across the state.

    She pleaded for a sustained relationship which has already been established between the council and the Agency.
    “We consider you to be a major stakeholder especially as it concerns Biase Local Government Area, because we know you can help us achieve a lot as it concerns health for both our mothers, new born and the aged.

    “Since the establishment of the CRSPHCDA in 2016, there have been a lot of advancement in the health sector especially as it concerns the healthcare system in the grassroot and that is why we are here to further expand our reach which we know it’s achievable through your support.

    “We have as well come to intimate you of the services we offer to the people, our work is to see that those in the very hard to reach areas access quality Healthcare just like those who live in the city, that is why we request your collaboration both in terms of infrastructure and workers welfare,”.

    Receiving the DG and her team, the chairman of Biase Local Government Area, Hon. Mrs Ada Charles, thanked them for coming as she enumerated numerous achievements recorded by the DG since her appointment in January 2020.

    Hon. Ada pledged her support and commitment to ensure that both Biase LGA and the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency work together to achieve quality Healthcare for her people.

    “The health sector is very important to me, and that is why my team and I have begun health interventions in various communities already, and we expect to improve on it in the nearest future and as well partner with your agency (CRSPHCDA) to reach those in the grassroot” Said Ada.

    She further promised an improved welfare for health workers in the council to motivate them in giving optimal services to the people.

    The DG also briefed her of the soon to commenced State Health Insurance Scheme where she encouraged her to mobilize her people to take advantage of the scheme to access comprehensive health services and as well thanked the council boss for the already established synergy between the council and the agency.

    The DG was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, Ms Rita Abu, the Directors of Administration, Barr. John Odu, Director of Finance, Mr Egbe Bassey, Director of Community Health, Mrs Sally Enyie and the State mobilization officer, NSA Ekpenyong as well as the Director of Local Government Area Health Authority, Mr Ibe. .

  • Ekpenyong Sensitizes Fulani Community On Benefits Of Immunization Services

    Ekpenyong Sensitizes Fulani Community On Benefits Of Immunization Services

     

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare development agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has admonished parents especially nursing mothers on the need to present their children for immunization services as and at when due.

    The admonition was made in Utanga, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State while on a working visit to supervise Primary Healthcare facilities in the Northern part of the state.

    Dr Ekpenyong  said immunization protects children from common diseases affecting children tasked members of the Hausa-fulani community to avail their children the opportunity to be immunized just like every other child in the country.

    She urged them to debunk every rumor and ideology portraying Immunization as unsafe with negative implications to the health of their children but rather see it as the best form of protection for children against childhood killer diseases .

    Ekpenyong further assured them that, no region, group or individual will be marginalized or neglected in the provision of any Primary Health care services as the state government is keen to actualizing an Efficient Health sector in line with global best practices where citizens can receive a 24 hours quality , affordable and available health care.

    One of the respondent and participants, Hadiza Daura praised the DG for the awareness creation as she also pledged her commitment to sensitize other people within the Hausa-fulani settlement in Utanga and across Obanliku.

  • Ekpenyong Warns Staff Against Discrimination Of Patients With Covid19 Related Symptoms

    Ekpenyong Warns Staff Against Discrimination Of Patients With Covid19 Related Symptoms

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has warned primary healthcare workers in the state against discriminating patients who present Covid19 related symptoms to their various facilities.

    Dr Ekpenyong issued the warning in Itigidi, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State when she undertook an assessment visit to ascertain the quality of information dissemination and knowledge sharing in the ongoing training exercise for Health workers on Covid19 prevention, treatment and care in the state.

    The DG said on no account should any facility or individual be reported for patient’s mismanagement or poor service delivery as a result of their medical predicament but charged them to take adequate caution while performing their duties.

    She said, though morality is being reported as it concerns Covid19, but when compared to other diseases common within our environment, health workers should not neglect patients to die because of fear of being infected and so the importance of adhering to the guidelines as being thought to them.

    “Covid19 just like every other sickness kills,but when you compare the mortality rate to malaria, typhoid and even maternal mortality you will discover that the attention given and the anxiety attached to it is unwarranted.
    It is unfair to allow patients who seek medical attention in your facilities to suffer or die because of fear of Covid19.
    Any health worker or facility that gets implicated with this act,will be dealt with appropriately, as we all know ,our duty is to provide quality healthcare for our people in line with Senator Ben Ayade’s Commitment in creating a formidable healthcare sector that will be envied across the country”.

    Ekpenyong further thanked the state Governor Senator Ben Ayade and members of the Health community in Cross River State for their Commitment in safeguarding the lives of Cross Riverians and maintaining a great fight against Covid19 and other infectious diseases.

    One of the participants Mrs Mary Isaac
    applauded the state government in investing in the development and capacity building of PHC staff as she also appealed for trainings of such nature to be replicated as often as possible in all other Primary healthcare services and programs in the state.

    The training which is organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and supported by the state government has over 5000 health beneficiaries comprising health workers drawn from the primary, secondary and tertiary health sector across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Since the first case of Covid19 was reported in March 2020, over 24,000 have tested positive, with about 8,000 discharged and a further 500 dead so far in Nigeria.

  • Prioritize Healthcare For Your Citizens As Part Of The Dividends Of Democracy – Ekpenyong

    Prioritize Healthcare For Your Citizens As Part Of The Dividends Of Democracy – Ekpenyong

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has urged local government Chairmen in the state to prioritize healthcare for their citizens as one of the most demanding dividend of democracy.

    The DG made the call at separate occasions when she paid courtesy visits to the chairmen of Obanliku and Etung Local Government Areas of Cross River State to felicitate with them on their landslide victory in the just concluded elections and their subsequent swearing in by the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade.

    Ekpenyong who identified a healthy society as the driving pillar of any nation’s growth, urged the newly sworn in Council Chairmen to work hand in hand with their various Local Government PHC Coordinators to bring into fruition the vision of His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade in taking quality and effective Healthcare to the grassroot which is critical in attaining Universal Health Coverage.

    Ekpenyong sought their cooperation in meeting the numerous health needs of their subjects through facilities upgrade, renovation and the provision of conducive environments for health workers which will motivate them in quality service delivery.

    In her response, the Chairman of Obanliku Local Government, Mrs. Margaret Inde said with her exposure in the health sector and as a public health practitioner, the primary health sector will receive much attention in order to eradicate various avoidable and preventable diseases.

    The chairman further said, as part of her proactive steps and dedication to the health of her people ,she has mandated the use of facemask by all staff in the council as hand washing and other personal protecting etiquettes have been outlined as routines in their daily scheme of work .

    On his part, the chairman of Etung Local Government Area, Mr John Etuk
    thanked the DG for the visit as he further commended her proactive nature which has helped shaped the primary health sector within her short period in office.
    He promised to collaborate with the agency and align with all of its policies as he identified primary health care as the foundation of effective Healthcare supply to citizens.

    The visits saw the DG present various personal protective equipment to the Council heads which includes, Veronica Buckets, Hand Sanitizers and Medical Face masks.

    The materials are in line with the global best practices of maintaining good personal hygiene and serve as a protective measure to the spread of various infectious diseases.

  • Cross River State Government Begins Integrated Campaign Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases

    Cross River State Government Begins Integrated Campaign Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases

    By Simon Ushie – Calabar

    The Cross River State Government has urged women especially nursing mothers to keep to the 6 routine immunization appointments for their wards to avoid deaths of infants in the state as a result of vaccine preventable diseases.

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong made the call while addressing the public on the importance of strict adherence to immunization exercise and the resultant effects when missed.

    Dr Ekpenyong held that globally one of the highest causes of infants mortality are illnesses which can be vaccinated against while also emphasizing that vaccines are the sourest antidotes for childhood killer diseases.

    The DG admonished parents and care givers to make their wards available for vaccination especially as the state is set to kick start its routine measles and immunization exercise across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State.

    Her words “We all know that there are other diseases that are killing our people especially children aside Covid19, and so as a state we have chosen to start an integrated campaign against all childhood killer diseases and for a start, the measles campaign. It is worrisome to note that many women are depriving their kids from this privilege and as a state, we can’t afford to manage another pandemic after Covid19.

    “I want to debunk every rumor out there that there are poisonous vaccines being imported and circulated across the country. Emphatically I must say that our vaccines in Cross River State are safe and they are potent in line with the World Health Organization’s standard and best practices. Our central cold store is working, and in our various facilities, we have solar panel refrigerators to store these vaccines.

    “I want to encourage all our mothers and care givers to as a matter of concern to take their children and wards to the nearest Primary Health care Facility around them and get them immunized.

    “Immunization is free and if taken accurately will ensure the development of antibodies of their children”.

    Also speaking, the State Immunization Officer, Mrs Joy Chabo, charged pregnant women to ensure maximum utilization of health facilities around them in order to receive vaccines which will protect them and their unborn children.

    On her part, the state Mobilization officer, Mrs Nsa Ekpenyong noted that  the agency have engaged the services of town criers in the rural areas, reached out to traditional, religious and group leaders to permit health workers to access their communities and facilities to administer vaccines to their kids as well as pregnant women.

    The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has commenced state wide campaign to mobilize women for routine immunization.

    Some of the diseases to be immunized include; Poliomyelitis, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria,Pneumonia, Measles,Yellow fever, Diarrhea among others.

  • Ekpenyong Charges Health Workers On Surveillance, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford Another Disease Outbreak

    Ekpenyong Charges Health Workers On Surveillance, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford Another Disease Outbreak

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has charged health workers in the Agency to step up surveillance and comprehensive health services as she said the state and nation can’t afford another disease outbreak.

    Dr Ekpenyong stated this as part of her closing remarks for the 3 days Virtual training exercise for Workers in the agency on best ways of managing the covid19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

    Ekpenyong said the training was imperative for workers across the 18 LGAs as this will further spur them to offer world class services and make them abreast with global practices on managing infectious diseases especially Covid19 and lassa fever.

    “We can’t afford to have another pandemic after Covid19, and that is why I am so excited to have our partners organize this training for our workers, I personally have learnt a lot and am sure all of our workers across the 18 LGAs who participated in the training have gained newer insight into the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and for those in the rural areas, these messages will be passed across to them”

    On cordial relationship and quality training and supports from partners, the DG said, such relationships must continue and evolve into more result oriented measures especially as the state seeks to front line the quest to ascertain the status of Universal Health Coverage in the nearest possible time.

    “I want to thank the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Fiasal Shuaib for this innovation to place primary Healthcare workers pal by pal with their contemporaries in both secondary and tertiary facilities through this training which is not only timely but necessary as we join our hands in fighting the Covid19 pandemic.

    “I also want to thank the facilitators in charge of Cross River State from the NPHCDA including Dr AJ Oteri, Dr Valentine Obijekwu, Dr Chinedu Okoronkwo, Ameenah, W.H.O partners including Dr Raji Rilwan, Mr Santus Ugbal, Mr Julius Idoko(State coordinator, NPHCDA) and all staff of the agency”

    In his response, one of the facilitators, Dr OJ Oteri praised the DG for coordinating a wonderful set of health workers whose contributions and inquisitive nature proved a collaborative fight for the elimination of Covid19.

    “I have not seen a wonderful set of participants like the ones we have in Cross River State, the platform was interactive all through the 3 days of training and one thing am confident about is that you all will step down these trainings to those in the rural areas, and it shows that the state is ready to fight Covid-19”.

    The three days training had about 200 participants including heads of various programmes like the immunization services, Family planning, community and family health, mobilization officers, heads of Local government’s health authority and other stakeholders who will in turn train lower cadre officers in their wards and communities.

    Participants were taught various topics ranging from Covid-19 transmission, symptoms, how to control the spread of the disease, Methods of spread and prevention, facts and rumours about the disease, roles and responsibilities of health workers in managing the disease.

  • CRSPHCDA Takes Quality Health Care Delivery To The Steps Of Cross Riverians

    CRSPHCDA Takes Quality Health Care Delivery To The Steps Of Cross Riverians

    BY Simon Ushie

    The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has devised an alternative means of meeting the health needs of Cross Riverians.

    The recent development had staff of the agency (Primary Healthcare Centre Ikot Efanga) organized  a medical outreach at Efanga Etim Settlement in Calabar municipality through the directives of the Director General,Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong who  urged  staff to take healthcare services close to the door steps of every residents.

    The head of the team and Officer in Charge of the Primary Healthcare Facility, Ikot Efanga, Mrs Christy Iwara said the team having recognized the huge contributions made by the governor, senator Professor Ben Ayade for all Cross Riverians to get access to quality and effective healthcare and the visionary leadership style of the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, decided to engage in weekly outreaches to various settlements around them.

    Mrs Iwara insisted that with various challenges faced by people in accessing healthcare, the health facility with a mandate by the DG, has identified various settlements within Efanga Etim which  is the first to benefit from the gesture.

    “I must commend the governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for his huge contributions towards improving the health sector in our dear state and also our Pragmatic Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong whose visionary leadership has led us into this community outreach, she had mandated that everyone within our facility get un compromised access to healthcare by engaging in community outreaches and taking medical Care to the door steps of those who need our services the most”.

    The outreach had over 200 people who benefited from various services including Blood pressure check, sugar level, malaria /typhoid testing, counselling, sensitization and education on the covid19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

    The team also distributed drugs, facemasks and hand sanitizers to members of the community.

    One of the beneficiary, Mr Efanga Effiong Okon thanked the governor, Senator Ben Ayade, the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Mrs Christy Iwara and other members of the team for the gesture as he said it has come to renew hope among members of the community and pleaded that the benevolence gesture be sustained.t

  • Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    By Simon Ushie – Calabar

    The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has flagged off a 3-day virtual training for health workers in the primary Healthcare Development Agency on how to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

    The DG in her opening remarks, thanked the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Faisal Shuaib and other staff of the agency for the timely support of training health workers who are the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.She urged the health workers to prioritize the training and develope their capacity for efficient service delivery.
    She urged them to be mindful of
    their healths by observing simple precautionary measures while attending to patients in their various facilities.

    Dr Ekpenyong said the state cannot afford to slow down in its approach in preventing the spread of the pandemic after getting nods up from the federal government (Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency) for best practices in Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

    She further commended the workers for their dogged nature in ensuring that all communities irrespective of barriers are reached through practical demonstrations of various preventive measures like hand wash, use of personal protective equipment and other forms of preventive measures.

    In his remarks, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Oteri praised the coordination of the Director General and her team whose responses proved valuable and a confirmation of a Zero incidence case on Covid19.

    “These Cross River people are doing very well, they have eluded my expectations, all of your responses have shown that the Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has done a very good job for the agency and for Cross Riverians as well.

    The virtual interactive training section had over 150 participants who will serve as trainers and coaches including heads of various units, Disease Surveillance and notification officers, Local Immunization Officers, infectious Disease officers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state which lasted for 9 hours.