The Cross River State Ministry of Health and the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme, a nongovernmental organization that supports HIV/AIDS-related interventions, have strengthened their partnership towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state by 2030 following a high-level strategic meeting held on Tuesday in Calabar.
The meeting was part of an official courtesy visit by the management delegation of ECEWS, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Eyo, to the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The engagement focused on reviewing ongoing public health interventions, expanding technical collaborations and strengthening partnerships aimed at improving healthcare delivery across Cross River State.
Speaking during the meeting, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk disclosed that the present administration in Cross River State has adopted a deliberate strategy of technological and infrastructural revitalization in the health sector.
According to the Commissioner, the State is already witnessing significant improvements in healthcare delivery under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu.
“We might not be where we wanted, but we know we are no more the place where we were,” Ayuk stated.
He announced that the newly established Universal Health Coverage Coordination Centre at the General Hospital, Calabar, would be inaugurated by the Governor next week, explaining that the facility would provide real-time monitoring and tracking of healthcare services across the state.
“You can stay there and pick information anywhere in the State concerning healthcare services. So you can track, you can trace from that point,” he said.
The Commissioner further revealed that through a partnership with the World Bank, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other partners, about 100 Primary Healthcare Centres are currently being renovated, solarized and equipped with staff quarters to support uninterrupted 24-hour healthcare services.
He also highlighted ongoing investments in secondary healthcare expansion, including functional oxygen plants in Calabar and Ogoja, with another oxygen plant expected to be commissioned in Ikom later this month.
Ayuk stated that the government is equally committed to completing the General Hospital, Ikom, within the first tenure of the current administration.
On healthcare financing, the Commissioner stressed the need for sustainable health insurance models driven largely by participation from the informal sector.
“Health insurance is the lowest hanging fruit which you can pluck and sustain the system, and the secret is in the informal sector,” he noted.
He also appealed to ECEWS to engage its international partners and funders towards supporting the renovation of out-station HIV clinical infrastructure across the state.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Bassey Jonah Offor, commended ECEWS for its 25 years of contributions to healthcare delivery in Cross River State.
He particularly praised the organization’s impact on disease control interventions and healthcare system strengthening across various local government areas in the State.
“ECEWS has been an integral part of healthcare delivery in Cross River State for the 25 years of its existence. Within one year of starting interventions in Obubra, Biase and Akamkpa, our TB case notification rates skyrocketed,” Offor said.
“Apart from the infrastructure they are providing, they are building the capacity of our healthcare workers and generally strengthening our health systems across our facilities,” he added.
Also speaking, Dr. Andy Eyo reaffirmed ECEWS’ commitment to supporting 64 health facilities and over 37,000 patients across the State.
According to him, the introduction of the organization’s executive management team was aimed at fostering stronger and more seamless collaboration with the state government.
Dr. Eyo expressed satisfaction with the level of improvement observed during a recent visit to the General Hospital, Calabar.
“What we saw today at Calabar General Hospital was really excellent; clean area, happy people doing the work, and strong integration efforts,” he stated.
He disclosed that ECEWS has deployed solar systems and all-in-one computer systems across healthcare facilities from Ogoja to Etung and pledged to advocate for the permanent absorption of locum doctors into the civil service.
The ECEWS Chief Executive Officer also described the working relationship between the Commissioner for Health and the Permanent Secretary as a strong leadership combination for healthcare delivery in the state.
The ECEWS delegation included the Chief of Party, Dr. Adeoye Adegboye; Chief Health Officer, Dr. Okezie Onyedinachi; Deputy Chief of Party, Dr. Otoyo Toyo; State Director, Umana Joe; alongside technical directors, monitoring experts and programme managers of the organization.
The meeting ended with the formal ratification of a Joint Supportive Supervision framework by both parties.
A multi-agency monitoring team comprising senior officials of the Ministry and executive representatives of ECEWS is expected to commence a statewide healthcare facility supervision tour beginning Wednesday in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
By Kingsley Agim and Jessica Ubi
