In a time in Nigeria when most medical doctors are relocating for greener pastures, Cross River State Governmment has received French healthcare workers in Calabar.
The Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, on Tuesday received in audience Dr. Salha Issoufou, the Director of Operations of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for West and Central Africa (WaCA)with headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Médecins Sans Frontières (translated as Doctors Without Borders) a non-profit, self-governed member-based organisation, came into Nigeria in 1971 during the Nigerian-Biafran war.
During the visit Hon. Odey conveyed Governor, Bassey Edet Otu’s gratitude to the French healthcare workers for supporting primary health care in Cross River State.
He said It is reassuring to know that in a time in Nigeria when most medical doctors are relocating for greener pastures, they are dedicating their time and resources to help people in other nations.
“Health care is life,” Odey noted.
Meanwhile, Odey assured the MSF of Cross River administration’s support to take healthcare in the State to greater heights.
Also, Dr Issoufou who visited Cross River State for the first time said Médecins Sans Frontières has been in the State since April 2022, operating in PHC Akor and PHC Old Ndebiji.
Issoufou companied by Dr. Coulibaly Ouonna, Project Coordinator, Cross River State, and Dr. Anne Marie, Project Medical Referent, Cross River State.
Dr. Issoufou highlighted the organization’s objective to include provision of medical assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
“Our team is made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff that are bound together by a Charter,” said Dr. Issoufou.
In fact, “medical ethics and principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality,” guided their actions,” Director Issoufou said.
For instance, the Project coordinator, Dr. Coulibaly Ouonna, said the team has carried out several interventions in the state.
He said they include MSF’s response to the cholera outbreak emergency between February and March 2023 in Abi and Obubra LGAs.
Dr. Ouonna, explained that during the cholera outbreak, MSF provided human resources, supplies, consumables and capacity building for the Staff of Ministry of Health in the two LGAs.
They equally constructed staff quarters at both facilities, launched a scholarship programme to train 11 indigenes in Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, and the Project Coordinator’s Assistant, Cross River State, Mr. Idorenyin lnwang, attended the visit.