—CRSG
By Onwa Ekor
Cross River government says the child-centric Community Action Plan (CAP) policy, will help reduce morbidity and mortality rates at the grassroots level where interventions are mostly needed.
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, gave the assurance when he received members of the State Social Mobilization and Technical Committee (SOMTEC), led by its Chairman, Mr. Anthony Okon, during a strategic advocacy visit in Calabar.
CAP, originally framed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is a collaborative, multi-phase strategy designed to strengthen paediatric healthcare, nutrition and social safety nets across the State.
Ekpang who remarked that the forthcoming policy is firmly rooted in Governor Bassey Otu’s “People First” agenda particularly within the healthcare sector, also
described the initiative as apt and timely.
According to Ekpang, “this Community Action Plan is not merely a bureaucratic document, it is a tangible reflection of this administration’s core philosophy.
“The governor’s ‘People First,’ mantra demands that our children who constitute the most vulnerable population receive premium, accessible and affordable healthcare.
“This partnership with UNICEF therefore, seeks to allow us institutionalise that care,” the state spokesman said.
Highlighting the state recent achievement of surpassing 95% coverage in routine immunization, Ekpang stressed the need for deliberate policies to improve other lagging health indicators.
He further assured that the Ministry of Information alongside other key stakeholders, will thoroughly review the draft policy documents in order to fast-track their presentation to the State Executive Council.
