Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade’s Director General on Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRS-PHCDA), Dr Betta Edu has bagged the prestigious African Icon of Medical Renaissance Award for meritorious services from the Pan African Students Movement (PASM), African Students Union Parliament(ASUP) and the Perpetual Ugbang Foundation ( PUF).
The well deserved award is in recognition of her giant strides and immense contributions to the growth and development of the healthcare delivery system in Cross River State and Nigeria at large.
While presenting the prestigious award, the Speaker of the African Students Union Parliament, Abel Kabul (from Côte de Voire) said it is in recognition of Edu’s sterling qualities, immense courage and steadfast determination in domesticating and leaving foot prints in the historical annals of Primary Healthcare in Nigeria, thus ensuring reliable , effective and efficient service delivery.
Kabul said, “The Pan African Servant Leadership Award (PASLA) presented to Dr (Mrs) Edu as Africa’s Icon of Medical Renaissance is in absolute recognition and appreciation of her tremendous record breaking and contributions to advance primary healthcare development, passionate patriotism, economic and human capital development, students and youths empowerment, national peace and international harmony, charity to the less privileged , meritorious services to God and humanity in the state and beyond.”
According to him, the Primary healthcare under Edu’s dynamic leadership had shown resilience and transparency which has helped to stabilise and enhance healthcare system in the state. Tremendous interventions made in the rural communities of the state is also noteworthy. He particularly cited the transfer of Primary healthcare workers from LGA to the State as a major boost to primary healthcare development in Cross River.
Speaking at the award ceremony, the Director of Perpetual Ugbang Foundation said their major aim is to synergize with the agency for further rural health care delivery and outreach to rural communities in the state. She said Dr Betta was professionally nominated by the foundation for a distinguished community service award solely due to her result oriented policies as DG.
In her remarks, Dr Edu, who was overwhelmed, expressed appreciation to the Pan African body and the African Students Union as well as Perpetual Ugbang foundation for finding her worthy of such an award.
“This award will further redouble my efforts and contributions to the development of primary healthcare in Cross River State,” she said.
The award was glowingly dedicated to His Excellency, Senator(Prof) Ayade Benedict for giving her the opportunity to serve the state, promising not to relent in her drive to raise the Primary healthcare system to world class standard and make Cross River State the hub of Primary healthcare in Africa. Dr Edu equally attributed the awards to the collective efforts of the management and staff of the Primary Healthcare Agency and the cooperation of development partners.
