…Says State Sets Pace in Primary Healthcare Delivery
By Musa Kutama, Calabar
The House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services has showered encomiums on the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu administration for its impressive milestones achieved in primary healthcare revitalization through the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The commendation was made by the committee Chairman, Hon. Amos Magaji, during a recent oversight visit to assess the implementation of key health interventions across the state.
Addressing media representatives in Calabar at the end of the visit, Hon. Magaji praised Governor Bassey Otu for his administration’s “clear vision and political resolve” to strengthen the healthcare delivery system, describing the reforms as a model of intergovernmental collaboration between the state and the federal government.
“What we have seen in Cross River is remarkable. The primary healthcare system here is undergoing genuine renewal,” Magaji noted. “Governor Otu’s administration is investing heavily on access and quality. If this pace continues, every ward in the state will soon boast a functional health centre, bringing us closer to universal health coverage by 2030.”
He explained that the committee’s mission was to evaluate how funds from the IMPACT Project and the BHCPF were being deployed, identify implementation challenges, and recommend policy support at the federal level.
His words “We observed recurring issues such as workforce shortages and the difficulty of reaching remote areas. These are not peculiar to Cross River, but we are determined to work with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other partners to address them,” he assured.
Magaji hinted that findings from the visit would guide future legislative interventions to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Receiving the delegation, Dr. Henry Ayuk, Commissioner for Health, expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as a validation of the state’s reforms and accountability mechanisms.
“Cross River’s progress is the product of strategic partnerships, between the state, the federal government, the World Bank, and development partners. In less than two years, Governor Otu’s administration has achieved a turnaround in both infrastructure and service delivery,” Dr. Ayuk stated.
He further highlighted the creation of the Drug Management Agency, which has stabilized the supply of essential medicines and vaccines across facilities.
In her contribution, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, disclosed that over 100 primary healthcare centres have been renovated under the combined funding of the IMPACT Project, BHCPF, and direct state interventions.
“When we took office, many facilities were dilapidated. Today, more than 100 have been refurbished and staffed,” Dr. Otu said. “We now have at least two skilled birth attendants in each of the 196 political wards, a major step towards improving maternal and child health.”
She appreciated the support of international partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Red Cross, Global Fund, etc, whose technical and logistic contributions have complemented the state’s investment.
The IMPACT Project Manager, Dr. Paul Odey, explained that the initiative was designed to upgrade facilities from Level 1 to Level 2 status, ensuring that each centre is adequately equipped and staffed to provide comprehensive healthcare.
“Our goal is to ensure every Level 2 facility has delivery suites, wards, laboratories, pharmacies, family planning units, water, power, and perimeter fencing,” he explained. “The project is closing human resource gaps and improving outcomes for mothers and children.”
Members of the committee on the visit included Hon. Emil Inyang (Akamkpa/Biase) and Hon. Bassey Akiba (Odukpani/Calabar Municipality), both representing Cross River State in the House of Representatives.
