By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, has listed poor accountability and staff truancy as some of the issues plaguing effective Primary Health Care (PHC) system in the state.
Ayuk who was speaking while on an unscheduled visit to Primary Health Centre, Abia community in Etung local government arrea, also pointed out that those anomalies have contributed grossly to the under-utilisation of the PHC system.
“Upon my arrival at PHC Abia community, I met only one staff out of the four that were supposed to be on duty. I was also told that of the three absentees, two stay in Ikom and come to work once or twice weekly, the Commissioner narrated with displeasure.”
He also frowned at another worrisome situation where subventions from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund given to the facility are not accounted for, noting that the cumulative effect of such irregularities has presented the undoing of the 25-bed facility.
“Consequently, I have directed the Etung PHC Coordinator, Mrs Caroline Iboh to querry the errant staff (absentees). I have also instructed the PHC Coordinator to report to Calabar on Wednesday with all 10 PHC Ward Focal Persons in the LGA. Their coming to Calabar would be to provide their programmes and financial reports for the last three months, Ayuk informed”.
While restating the governor Bassey Otu-led administration’s commitment to improving the health sector of the state, especially the Primary Healthcare System, the Health Commissioner said Etung LGA will be used as a warning for those trying to stultify government’s effort to providing healthcare to the grassroots.
