The Cross River State government has again bagged another international award from a group of volunteers, The Red Cross Volunteers Incorporated for effective management of COVID-19.
In a statement announcing the nomination and signed by Dr Abel King, Executive Director of the Red Cross Volunteers Incorporated explained that the choice of governor Ben Ayade for the award was to compliment the Cross River State giant strides in the health sector particularly in the excellent and effective management of COVID-19 in the state.
The statement noted that the group which is independent of the Red Cross Society is set up to monitor emerging global health crisis, human rights concerns, gender and disaster management in developing nations.
The group referenced the massive sensitisation activities and effective channels of information dissemination put in place by the Cross River state government to enlighten people on the COVID-19.
“We are delighted to inform you that this nomination is also predicated upon; first, the massive production of locally made facemasks by the Cross River state government for use of the good people of the state in furtherance to halt the further spread of the pandemic. In addition to resolving the health emergency, it has created employment window for the citizens of the state.
“We are also delighted with the manner the state government has regulated the emergency protocols to curtail the spread of the virus without breaching constitutional rights of citizens.
“This award is a clarion call for all stakeholders in the health sector, the Nigerian Medical Association, community leaders, Trade Unions to join hands with the state government to achieve the desired common goal for all.
“The provision of efficient isolation and testing modalities in cross River state is the most popular and critical approach to the getting the virus arrested.
The nomination note further stated that the activities of the state government in line with COVID-19 sensitisation and management would be featured in the Red Cross volunteers International journal to showcase to the world the commendable strides in the Cross River state health care sector”, the letter of nomination stated among other reasons.
The group urged governor Ben Ayade to view the award as a clarion call to render more service to his people.
The groups membership is drawn from a stream of Civil Society Organisations, Clergy, Centre for Gender Advocacy, Federation For Human Rights Sustenance and The Civil Rights Liberty Movements.
The certificate and plaque of Global Health Standards (GHS2020) is the highest level of recognition by the Independent Red Cross International Volunteers.
