By Kingsley Agim
Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk has stated that the State Government would launch an investigation into the alleged carting away of equipment from the Primary Health Care (PHC) facility in the Bebuabie Community in Obudu Local Government Area and mete appropriate sanctions on anyone found guilty of the crime.
Dr. Ayuk made this known, in a phone interview, in reaction to a video making the rounds on social media purportedly showing one Christiana Akeke, alleged to be the Primary Health Coordinator of Obudu, on a mission to ferry equipment from the health facility.
The alleged Coordinator had arrived at the Bebuabie Health Centre on a bus tagged “Cross River State Government, Primary Health Care Development Agency 014C,” with plate number CR 876 A01, but met stiff resistance from youths of the community on the grounds of lack of information to the community leaders and PHC staff.
“We will investigate the matter, and if anyone is found guilty, he or she would be sanctioned in line with the extant rules of the civil service,” the Commissioner stated, adding that the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration would not condone acts that are inimical to development and wellbeing of the people.
“I have directed my Permanent Secretary to liaise with her counterpart in the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, unravel the truth or falsity of the allegation and report to the government for further necessary action. In a matter of days, I will personally visit Obudu and Obanliku, respectively, to ascertain the ugly incidents that have made the rounds recently,” Ayuk, who has been on official assignment in Abuja informed.
The Health Commissioner expressed appreciation to the people of Bebuabie Community for rising up to resist the heinous act that was attempted on their PHC. He called on other communities in the State to borrow a leaf from Bebuabie and take ownership of government infrastructure in their localities, as the government alone cannot guarantee the security of its investments.
He warned anyone with similar sinister motives to back off as the government would wield the arm of the law on whoever tries to thwart its drive towards strengthening the health sector of the State.