By Jonathan Ugbal
CALABAR: Selected staff of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) have been trained on the installation of solar suit case by developing partner, Pathfinder international in collaboration with ‘We Care Solar’ a United States based non-profit organisation.
The training which lasted between July 25-29, 2016 saw officials of Pathfinder International (PI) guide staff of CRSPHCDA on the installation of 5 units of the portable solar suit cases which in subsequent weeks will be installed across Primary Health Centres across the state to provide power for maternity wards under the Saving Mother Giving Life (SMGL) program of the state.
“The essence of this training is to equip program officers, electricians and SMGL state desk officers with knowledge on the solar energy system and how it can be maintained” said Olabode Oyekoya the SMGL desk officer for PI.
The Director General, CRSPHCDA, Betta Edu commended PI for the successful implementation of the project and assured them that the governor, Professor Ben Ayade will continue supporting the organization to actualize their goal in the state through the provision of an enabling environment, security and other infrastructural logistics.
Practical Training on the installation of the solar energy system Installation of the solar panel Presentation of certificate to a trainee by PI.
Represented by the SMGL desk officer in the Agency, Sally Enyim, the DG also assured the partners of the effective utilization of the machinery in ensuring maternal mortality rates are drastically reduced in the state by 2020 and appealed to them to increase the number of solar suit cases to reach other PHC’s in the state not included in this phase.
The training was divided into two parts, theory and practical’s with the first two days of the training focused on theoretical work (featuring training methodologies, demonstration videos, illustrative lectures, power points and skilled demonstration models) while practical’s were carried out at the Pathfinders SMGL supported PHC’s in Ikot Offiong Ambai, PHC Idundu in Akpabuyo local government area, PHC Odukpani and PHC Akani Esuk.