C'River Primary Health DG, volunteers repair Health Centre in Ito

Director General of the Cross River State Primary HealthCare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Betta Edu has mobilised volunteers for the immediate repair of the primary healthcare centre in Ito community in Odukpani local government area of the state.

Speaking, Edu said that "Ito health centre is one of the facilities selected for the 72hrs PHC makeover. We are bent on fixing our weakest link under the primary health care revitalization.

We are identifying those facilities that have the worse in the state and local governments. We asked people to send in entries of health facilities in their villages and we pick out the worse to rejuvenate. This is how this one came about".

Edu decried that the over 10,000 people residing in Ito and other nearby villages like Ibo, Idem Ito are using just one poorly-staffed health centre.

While promising to strengthen the workforce of the facility for effective service delivery, she charged the community leaders and residents to take ownership of the property.

Receiving the team of volunteers to the facility, Mrs. Blessing Ita, a community health worker in Ito health centre said that the beautification and standardization of any medical facility have psychological effect on the wellbeing of patients.

Ita appealed to the State Government for more health workers in the facility.

Confirming the myriad of traditional birth attendants in the area, Mrs. Ita said there have not been cases of maternal and infant mortality in the area.

She advised those still patronizing the untrained birth attendants to desist forthwith and rather access quality health care services from the facility.

Clan Head of Ito North and South, His Royal Highness Etiyen Edet Okon Ebita said: "the exercise was marvelous, I was amazed at the sight of this beautiful accomplishments."

The royal father gave kudos to the initiator of the project and promised to set up a vigilante group as security to the facility.