WHO donates medical commodities to prevent disease outbreaks in C/River

Cross River State government’s effort to fight against cholera and other disease outbreaks received a boost with the donation of medical commodities by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Speaking while presenting the items to the State Commissioner for Health at the Ministry’s headquarters in Calabar, WHO Coordinator in the State, Dr Yewande Olatunde, lauded the state government for their surveillance and other measures put in place to prevent and mitigate cholera and other epidemics in the state.

Olatunde stated that WHO concerns itself with supporting surveillance systems in Nigeria and would continue to leverage the robust relationship with the government to prevent outbreaks. The WHO official said the items donated would be used to further enhance monitoring and strengthening of infection control in health facilities across the state.

Receiving the items, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, conveyed the gratitude of the government to the organisation and acknowledged the huge role it plays in strengthening health systems in the state.

Ayuk assured that the items would be used efficiently to maximise surveillance and ensure that frontline health workers are protected. Items donated included 30 cartons of Isolation gowns, 37 cartoons of facemasks, six cartons of examination gloves, 15 cartons of face shields, and five cartoons of aprons.