Cross River govt hands over IMPACT project sites to firm

The Cross River Government has officially transferred the Lot 1 IMPACT project sites to Ryte Reasons Limited, as announced by Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health.

Ayuk conducted the formal handover during his visit on Friday to two of the twenty-two Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) that will be revitalised across four local government areas: Calabar South, Municipal, Bakassi, and Akpabuyo.

The IMPACT Project, which is being carried out in partnership with the State Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, aims to enhance healthcare services in both rural and urban areas, providing residents with access to quality medical facilities.

Funded by the World Bank, this initiative is a critical part of the state government’s healthcare reform strategy, aiming to upgrade primary health centres with modern infrastructure, essential medical equipment, and improved services to support the state’s growing population.

Ayuk said that the project is expected to be completed within three months, alongside the commencement of Lot 2. He stated that the handover is not just to the contractor but also to all stakeholders involved, emphasizing the importance of community and facility staff in monitoring the project’s progress.

He indicated that the local government is also a key stakeholder, responsible for ensuring that the contractor fulfils their obligations and providing regular reports to the IMPACT program manager to verify that the work being done meets the required standards before any additional payments are made.

In his address, Project Coordinator, Paul Odey highlighted Calabar South as a significant area for intervention, reflecting the government’s dedication to affordable healthcare.

He expressed optimism that the upgrades to primary health facilities will notably improve their capacity, particularly in maternal and child health and disease prevention at the grassroots level.

Odey also thanked the governor for agreeing to fund the project’s counterpart costs, acknowledging that prior inaction by the former government had led to implementing partners withdrawing from the state.

He noted that Ryte Reasons Ltd, selected through a rigorous bidding process, will manage the construction of the 22 facilities under Lot 1.

Community leaders and stakeholders have pledged their support to the contractor to ensure the project’s timely completion.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

Why we gave grants to hoteliers, restaurant owners — Cross River govt