‘Sweet Prince’ Healthcare Scheme Bearing Fruits — C-River Govt
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The ‘Sweet Prince Palliative Healthcare Programme’ (SPPHP) initiated by the Cross River State government to boost affordable and easily accessible medical management delivery system is already yielding expected fruits in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk, said the initiative, which is in furtherance of Governor Bassey Otu-led administration’s ‘People’s First’ agenda, is bringing succour to patients who patronize public health facilities, ranging from primary health centres to general hospitals.
He said by properly taking care of patients and at very minimal costs, the State government’s efforts are also paying off in dissuading residents from patronising quacks who endanger their health and welfare in the process.
Dr Ayuk, who spoke about the initiative while briefing newsmen on his Ministry’s activities in Calabar, said the government is fully committed to promoting efficient healthcare system in the state
He said the unfounded belief that the cost of accessing public health facilities is quite high has unfortunately seen many people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, shifting their attention towards patronising the services offered by quacks and fraudulent medical practitioners
According to him; “Out of sheer ignorance, a lot of people, especially the poor and the vulnerable, have lost their lives in the course of seeking what they perceive as cheap approach to medicare, even in cases that require surgery”.
The Commissioner said to further ginger up the palliative healthcare programme, the State government has already embarked on free medical outreaches to the rural areas with the outcomes indicating tremendous patronage, adding that such events include advocacy and enlightenment campaigns to expose the evils of patronizing quacks.
Dr Ayuk warned against the situation where some people prefer to patronize quacks with the sheer assumption that the confidentiality of their ailments would be preserved, stressing that there should be no compromising of one’s health in the name of being discreet or having purported ‘cheap’ charges in the bargain.
He urged patients and their family members to always seek the warm embrace of experts in different fields of medical practice who are readily available in most public health institutions across the State.
In addition to the gains made through the SPPHP and the free medical outreaches, the Commissioner commended donor agencies, such as USAID, GLOBAL FUND, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), for their robust and fruitful partnership that continuously add value to the quality of most healthcare programmes initiated by the State government.
While flagging-off the ‘Palliative Health Programme’ to provide healthcare assistance to vulnerable groups in June this year, Governor Otu said beneficiaries would include pregnant women, children under five, and the elderly who are 70 years and above.
He said the programme, which fulfills his commitment to prioritize the people’s health and well-being, involves establishing modern General Hospitals in each local government area of the State, assuring also that the State Health Insurance Scheme would be reformed to ensure affordable and effective healthcare services for all residents.
