A delegation from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) led by the Country Director, Ms. Ulla Elisabeth Mueller accompanied by the State Programme Specialist, Reproductive Health, UNFPA, Cross River, Yakubu Aliu, earlier today paid a courtesy visit to the wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade, to seek collaboration with her NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation at the NGO level and to solicit backing in pushing for policies that will enable the provision of universal access to sexual and reproductive health, promote reproductive rights, reduce maternal mortality and accelerate progress towards the achievement of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) programme of action.

In her response, Dr Linda Ayade was excited that some of UNFPA’s activities were in sync with what her NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) does.

With passion in her eyes Dr. Ayade said she was already fighting gender-based violence having facilitated the prosecution of sex offenders and carried out several advocacies to schools, markets, communities, amongst others to educate the people on how to prevent SGBV and the need to speak up when it occurs. She expressed her readiness to partner with the group as she hailed their activities describing them as laudable.

Dr Linda Ayade also promised to use her position as wife of Governor to drive and lobby government for policies that will lead to the prevention of gender base violence.

Briefing Dr Linda Ayade on the purpose of their visit, the Country Director, Ms. Ulla Elisabeth Mueller said they were there to first of all seek partnership with her on the NGO level for programme implementation and secondly to solicit her support to use her office as wife of Governor to drive for policies that will enable UNFPA carry out its mandate which is to work in partnership with the Government of Nigeria to implement development activities that provide universal access to sexual and reproductive health, promote reproductive rights, reduce maternal mortality and accelerates progress towards the achievement of the ICPD declaration.
She revealed that Nigeria has the highest prevalence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the world and that is why UNFPA is establishing VVF centers in Nigeria, one of which is located in Cross River State.

In her goodwill message the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu thanked UNFPA for their contribution to the development strides the state has made in providing
sexual and reproductive health, in the provision of free surgeries for Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) repairs and treatment in the state at the VVF Centre, General Hospital, Ogoja, and other activities to promote reproductive rights, reduce maternal mortality.

Dr. Betta said in terms of partnership their quest to collaborate with Dr. Linda Ayade were not misplaced as her NGO, MDF were already carrying out some of the activities of UNFPA and have the experience and manpower to implement their activities.