By Onwa Ekor, Calabar
In a bid to create conducive working environment for its civil and public servants to deliver on the people’s first mantra, Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has inaugurated an edifice along Marian Road, Calabar, that would house the Cross River Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA).
Otu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, said the commission of the edifice is in fulfillment of his promise to prioritize the health needs of the citizenry through an enabling environment for policy drivers to efficiently deliver on their mandate.
According to him, the event showcases a clear demonstration of the People’s first mantra of the present administration, noting that, “when we talk about people’s first, we are talking about their health and well-being.”
He remarked that, “We have had a SACA office before, but we have never had an edifice like this, hence the governor decided to put his policy to action through this project.
“This occasion is a clear demonstration of the governor’s readiness and willingness to eradicate the pandemic to make Cross River an AIDS free state in Nigeria,” Otu maintained.
Earlier, the Director General, CR SACA, Dr Charles Iwara, remarked, “when I took up the helms of affairs as DG of this Agency, the governor gave me a marching order to firstly turn around the state’s server and then put this structure to use because it was completely dilapidated and unhabitable.
“It was in that order that he graciously approved some funds to us which we have utilized to turn around this structure as mandated and that is why we are here for the commissioning,” Iwara said.
Continuing, the D-G informed that “we also promised the governor that the commissioning of this project will be part of activities to commemorate the World AIDS Day and to the glory of God, it has come to reality and we will not stop to thank the People’s governor for his magnanimity and genuine love for the people.”
He added that given the robust programmes put in place by the Cross River government in order to eradicate the pandemic, the 2030 target for the state to be HIV/AIDS free, would be feasible.
