Cross River varsity seeks better health facility ahead NUGA Games
The University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, has commenced moves to upgrade its health centre ahead of the forthcoming Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games, which the institution is expected to host.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong directed the Health Centre Management Board to submit a comprehensive report detailing the facility’s challenges, priority needs and plans for improving healthcare services.
Offiong gave the directive on Monday when members of the board paid a courtesy visit to the university management.
Speaking during the visit, the VC, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Inyang Enang, commended the board for its efforts to improve healthcare services and the welfare of members of the university community, particularly students.
He urged the board to provide a detailed official document on the health centre’s priority needs and challenges to enable management to take informed decisions.
Offiong assured the board that management would work towards addressing the challenges confronting the facility and explore partnerships with relevant health agencies to strengthen healthcare delivery.
He also said remedial measures would be put in place ahead of the NUGA Games.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Medical Board, Dr Victor Nwagbara, said the visit was to brief the Vice-Chancellor on the condition of the health centre and the challenges affecting its operations.
Nwagbara identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges facing the facility and appealed to management to provide the Director of Health Services with adequate imprest to enable the centre operate effectively.
He also called for the restoration of mandatory medical screening for fresh students, the upgrading of the health centre ahead of the NUGA Games, functional medical equipment and appropriate storage facilities.
The Medical Board chairman further urged management to ensure proper utilisation of funds from the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Tertiary Social Health Insurance Programme to prevent the withdrawal of the schemes from the institution.
Nwagbara assured that the board would submit the comprehensive report on the health centre’s challenges and needs as directed by the Vice-Chancellor.