Cross river to improve quality care for mothers,newborn and children.

FMOH PARTNERS CRSG ON IMPROVED QUALITY OF CARE FOR MOTHERS, NEWBORNS AND CHILDREN, AS STATE SET TO IMPLEMENT USAID-MCGL QoC PROJECT

The Federal Ministry Of Health(FMOH) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA) in collaboration with United States Agency For International Development (USAID) have gone into a partnership with the Cross River State Government to implement
The Momentum Country and Global Leadership For Quality Of Care (MCGL QoC) project, a USAID funded project in Nigeria targeted at strengthening and supporting maternal, newborn, child health quality of care advancement through improved care for mothers, newborn and children as a way of curbing poor quality care which is a leading contributor to maternal, neonatal and child deaths.

The MCGL QoC project is in line with national and sub-national policies, learning and research, provision of technical support and incorporation of quality of care standards in the state into the existing policy, structure and strategy in Nigeria so as to curb and possibly eradicate the prevalence of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality occasioned by poor quality of care in the state.

Speaking at the meeting, the team lead Dr. (Mrs.) Comfort Okpe the senior RMNCH Technical Adviser lauded the giant strides and innumerable achievements of the Cross River State Government through the Gov. Ben Ayade\’s led administration in the health sector as she retorted \”Cross River State was seamlessly considered for this project by the Federal Ministry Of Health owing to her sterling records in the health sector across the country\”.

Dr. (Mrs.) Comfort Okpe explained that the project which has an initial deadline validity period of three (3) years is billed for implementation in two (2) Local Government Areas across the state will have one(1) secondary facility serving as feeder to three (3) other Primary Health Care facilities as this will ensure improved provision of quality of health care services upon implementation will prevent many maternal and neonatal deaths whilst giving mothers, babies and children the ample opportunity to survive and thrive in vitality. She however stated that research and surveys has shown that the leading causes of these avoidable deaths are sepsis, intrapartum injuries and pneumonia that can actually be reduced through improved quality care received by mothers,newborns and children across the antenatal,postnatal and child health care services delivery and was positive this feat will be achieved in the state.

Dr. Janet Ekpenyong the honourable commissioner for health while responding to the detailed presentation thanked the FMOH, NPHCDA and the USAID MCGL QoC project for finding the state worthy to be partakers of this lofty project implementation. She reiterated that the Executive Governor Sen.Prof. Ben Ayade in his wisdom is not oblivious of the numerous benefits of this project that spans from saving lives, reduction in cost of health care access to provision of improved healthcare for mothers, newborns, and children which has necessitated his swift response of going into partnership with the implementing agencies and is indeed a welcomed development for the State.

Dr.Janet Ekpenyong who by virtue of policy as the honourable commissioner for health is the state leader of the steering committee assured the team of total support at all times even as she granted express attention and proffered solutions to the key issues and requirements raised at the meeting.

Dr. Ekpenyong also provided a list of Quality of Care sites to the team for selection as it meets and suits the targets and goals of the project.

Also speaking, The Director General of the CRSPHCDA, Mrs Abasioffiong Offiong thanked the FMOH and USAID for the selection of Cross River State and reiterated the state\’s commitment to the full and successful implementation of the project, which she believes will improve on the quality of care , hence reducing maternal and infant mortality in the State. She also mentioned the need for a scale up to other LGAS which will be very beneficial.

Also present in the meeting were other members of the team from FMOH, the Permanent Secretary of SMOH, Dr Pauline Obute, Directors and Programme officers from the SMOH and CRSPHCDA and USAID Implementing Partners.

Kenneth Anam
Ministry Of Health.