The Cross River State Government has showcased landmark achievements in the health sector as part of activities marking the two years in office of Governor Bassey Otu, with stakeholders commending the administration’s efforts to transform healthcare delivery in the state.
Speaking at a special colloquium on Tuesday at the State Library Complex, Calabar, Governor Otu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said his government had placed the health sector at the centre of its People First agenda. He stressed that health is not just a welfare service but a driver of productivity, economic growth, and social well-being.
“My administration does not regard healthcare merely as a welfare service, but as a critical determinant of the overall well-being of our people, with direct correlation to economic growth. Only a healthy citizen can create wealth and drive other indices of development,” Otu declared.
The governor disclosed that, in partnership with the World Bank, the state is renovating and equipping 82 Primary Health Centres across the 18 local government areas. These include seven in Calabar South, six each in Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Boki, and Calabar Municipality, five each in Ikom and Etung, and four each in Obubra, Obudu, Obanliku, Biase, and Yala. Abi, Bekwarra, and Yakurr LGAs will each benefit from three centres.
“These centres are the closest to our people at the grassroots and are being repositioned to provide efficient, affordable, and accessible services,” Otu said, noting that immunization, advocacy, recruitment, and retraining of health personnel remain priorities.
Governor Otu also highlighted milestones in the secondary healthcare subsector. “Dialysis centres in General Hospitals, Calabar and Ogoja, are being renovated and upgraded, while a new General Hospital is under construction in Ikom. The once-abandoned Cottage Hospital in Oban, Akamkpa, is being reconstructed, alongside the rehabilitation of Ukem Hospital in Odukpani and selected facilities in Akpabuyo.”
“In addition, the Fistula Centre at the General Hospital, Calabar, has been equipped and is fully functional. The four Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery have also been upgraded and fully accredited, which Otu described as “a solid investment in training the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
To cushion the impact of economic hardship, Otu said the state government has introduced the Sweet Prince Palliative Healthcare Programme, which provides free medical services to pregnant women, children under five, and citizens aged 70 and above.
He added that the State Health Insurance Scheme is now operational to reduce out-of-pocket spending, while medical oxygen plants have been built at General Hospitals in Calabar and Ogoja in partnership with UNICEF.
Governor Otu assured that recommendations from the colloquium would be adopted and integrated into government policy. He emphasized that governance is “not a sprint but a marathon” and pledged continued investment in health to ensure a healthier, more productive population.
“The theme of this colloquium, Cross River and the ‘People First’ Mantra: Evaluating the Impact of Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s Health Transformation Agenda, is apt and aligns perfectly with our governing mantra. From the keynote address, thematic discussions, and audience interventions, I am convinced beyond doubt that our administration has exceeded expectations in healthcare delivery,” he said.
He further pledged continuity in implementing bold, people-oriented initiatives to secure the health and well-being of all Cross Riverians.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, described the colloquium as an opportunity for reflection and forward planning, adding that the last two years have witnessed unprecedented reforms already changing the face of healthcare delivery in the state.
