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C’RIVER HEALTH MINISTRY PARTNERS UCTH ON IMPROVED HEALTHCARE SERVICE DELIVERY

The Cross River State Ministry of Health has paid a working visit to the Management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, in a bid to enhance harmonious working relationship and improve healthcare service delivery.

The a meeting, a second within a month, was aimed at strengthening stakeholders collaboration between the two parties, as well as providing the opportunity to discuss common interests and other partnership opportunities in healthcare service delivery in the State.

Leading the State Ministry of Health team, the Special Adviser on Health, Dr David Ushie commended the UCTH for the professional services rendered to the citizens of the State and for the hospital’s pioneering role in the area of Health manpower development for the state.

“Given the absence of a State Specialist Health manpower training Institution, we are blessed by your presence and your roles in training the specialist manpower needs which our people deserve,” the SA remarked.

Dr. Ushie further informed the UCTH management that the visit was also to formally introduce the new Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Iwara I. Iwara, who had been recently appointed by Governor Ben Ayade, and posted to the Ministry to contribute to the smooth administration of the State’s Health agenda.

“The main purpose of this visit is to formally and unbehalf of His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade, introduce the new Perm Sec to your management in fulfilment of the need for the state to fill our gap in the board of your management, which existed since our last Perm Sec, Barr Takon retired from service about a year ago. I’m pleased to also in our company introduce the Director of Administration, DA, of SMoH, also posted to the ministry the same week to help the PS pilot the Health policy of the state. As you already know, in our last visit about two weeks ago, I came with the entire State health team comprising of the State Ministry of Health, the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the National Health Insurance Authority. The purpose was to increase the integration of our public health response in the last year of the present administration and to guarantee efficiency, especially given the disruptions that elections and political transitions can create within the public service in general. Like the last, this visit is of no less importance to our industry and the practice of saving lives,” the medical expert and political appointee stated.

The Special Adviser assured the UCTH team of transmitting their complaints to the Executive Governor, whom, he believed will like to reestablish their flourishing relationship. He further appealed to the UCTH management for the timely completion of the pending Service Level agreement (MoU) between the State Health Insurance Agency and the UCTH.

According to Dr. Ushie: “This service level agreement is key to the relationship between the two authorities, as it guarantees the missing tertiary level healthcare component to the State Health Insurance Scheme. The scheme commenced rendering clinical care to her enrollees since December 14, 2021. As a member of this community, it will be my pleasure to bring the attention of His Excellency to the institution.”

Responding on behalf of the UCTH management, the Director of Administration, Barr Ededet Eyoma, thanked the State Government Health team for the gesture, while assuring that the new Permanent Secretary of an invitation to represent the State in the upcoming board meeting of the hospital.

Barr Eyoma, who also lamented the low level of support usually provided by the State Government to the health institution, however expressed optimism that the renewal of relations between the two bodies will translate into an improvement in such assistance from State Government going forward.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr. Michael Eyong, thanked the State team for the visit and promised closer support to the State’s Public Health activities, including the tertiary component of the Health Insurance Services to the State health insurance enrollees.

Dr Eyong noted that the UCTH is already engaged in health insurance services with the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, which makes it very easy since the same NHIA is the Federal regulator of the State Health Insurance operations. He added that: “Our Desk Officer on Health Insurance will work with your team and draw the agreement as required. The people we care for are our Cross River State citizens and we know the importance of health in driving the industrialization activities of the present administration.”

In his appreciatory remarks, the new Permanent Secretary, Dr. Iwara I. Iwara lauded the UCTH management for holding the forte of optimal healthcare service delivery in the State, while promising to close the gap between the government and the hospital.

Speaking on the public persona of the newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, the Director of Medical and Dental Services, Dr. Itam Essien, said: “Dr. Iwara is going to make a good representation given his anticident in administering the Department of Public Health of the State Ministry of Health, as the department relates with all Health partners of the State response.”

Naijavoice