A stakeholders engagement meeting was convened by the Cross River State Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) to discuss the IMPACT Project and its implications for the state’s health sector.
Dr. Ayuk, in his introductory remarks, welcomed the attendees and introduced members of the health clusters. He outlined the purpose of the meeting, emphasizing the significance of the IMPACT Project in enhancing healthcare delivery across the state.
The Project Manager, Dr. Paul Odey, provided an overview of the IMPACT Project and its anticipated impact. He highlighted the project’s primary objective: to reduce under-five mortality rates from 132 to 79 per 1,000 births by 2030. Dr. Odey explained that the first phase of the project focuses on improving the utilization and quality of immunization plus and malaria services. He emphasized that “Immunization plus” encompasses a comprehensive range of services, including immunization, maternal, child, and neonatal care.
Dr. Odey underscored the crucial role of the laptops in data collection and storage, emphasizing their significance in generating accurate health statistics and records. He outlined plans for comprehensive training programs for health personnel on the utilization of the laptops in health information management, covering topics such as the Health Management Information System (HMIS) and the Digital Health Information System 2 (DHIS2).
The IMPACT Project, an acronym for “Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming services,” aims to strengthen immunization services, particularly for children under five. Key project components include training and engagement of midwives, provision of essential commodities, and service enhancement. The project is strategically designed to improve critical health indicators within the state, including maternal, neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality rates.
Dr. Odey also announced plans to renovate 82 dilapidated Primary Health Care (PHC) centers across the state as part of the project’s broader scope.
The Director-General of the CRSPHCDA, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, expressed gratitude to Governor Otu for providing the state with this valuable opportunity to enhance healthcare quality, particularly at the grassroots level.
In his address, Governor Otu, who is affectionately known as the “People’s First” Governor, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to delivering quality healthcare to all Cross Riverians. He urged the health cluster to make the most of the opportunities presented by the IMPACT Project.
In response to the Governor’s address, Dr. Otu, the DG of CRSPHCDA, pledged to maximize the benefits of this significant opportunity for the state.
The culmination of the event was the ceremonial presentation of laptops to the Honorable Commissioner for Health and the DG CRSPHCDA, marking a significant step towards the digitalization of the health sector in Cross River State.
