World Health Organization is working worldwide to promote health, keeping the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. It advocates that a billion more people should have; universal health care coverage, engagement with the monitoring of public health risks, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting health and well-being. It also provides technical assistance to countries, sets international health standards, and collects data on global health issues.
To curb the numerous outbreak of Cholera, diarrhea and other waterborne diseases especially during this period of high flood, the organization has supported the State Health Ministry with surveillance/rapid response management commodities.
Speaking during the presentation of the items, the WHO State Coordinator for CRS Dr. Ibrahim Salisu stated that the items donated to the Ministry is to help strengthen the fight against Cholera and other epidemic prone diseases. “As we can see, there’s a high level of flood that has affected many communities in Cross River State amongst other States, the effect of this comes with epidemic diseases like Cholera, diarrhea, and other waterborne diseases. WHO under the leadership of the Country Director Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo have seen the need to support the State with this commodities to help keep the people safe and healthy.
The essence of this support is to strengthen the laboratory capacity so as to integrate/test suspected diseases in addition to complimenting the efforts of the State Government to build an effective epidemic preparedness/responsive system now that this flood has affected many communities in the State. We wish to thank the State Government and the leadership of the Cross River State Ministry of Health for their unflinching support and partnership as we wish to reassure them of the Country Director’s resolve to continue to support the government of CRS to strengthen the health system and ensure universal health coverage.”
Receiving the items on behalf of the Cross River State Government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Iwara Iwara expressed his happiness and thanks to WHO for the support to the CRSG stating that the organization has always been at the forefront in the supply of health commodities which will at this time improve the Cholera surveillance with testing kits that have so far become difficult to get in the market today.
“Let me on behalf of the State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade thank and appreciate you for donating this items to the State, the effect of the flood most of our communities are experiencing is beginning to tell on us and with this surveillance/rapid response management commodities donated to us today, we are rest assured that our people will continue to remain safe and healthy as onward distribution will commence immediately to those communities to cushion any disease outbreak.
“As a State we extend our appreciations to the WHO Country Director Dr. Walter Kazadi and the State Coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Salisu for being outstanding and very supportive. These items will help us detect cases as the need arises and will be used judiciously for the purpose which they have been donated for. As a State we are blessed with a pro health Governor as such we’ll continue to appreciate the support of Governor Ben Ayade and his dear wife Dr. Linda Ayade for always prioritizing the health sector.
Items donated includes ; 40 packs of Cholera RDT, 100 packs of Cary blair medium, 500 pieces of disposable gloves, 500 pieces of IEC materials, 50 pieces of swab stick, 15 cartons of Hartman’s solution, 14 packs of doxycycline capsules, 2 gallons of chlorine and 2 gallons of 10% providons iodine solution.
Ntem Kris
CRSMOH MEDIA.
