The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability in healthcare commodity management through the digitalisation of medical supply systems across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), led by its State Director, Dr. Joseph Umana, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health in Calabar.
Dr. Ayuk commended ECEWS for its continued support to the state’s health sector, describing the proposed digitalisation of inventory processes at the Central Medical Store as a strategic intervention that aligns with the Governor Bassey Edet Otu administration’s drive to strengthen health systems through technology and innovation.
He explained that the initiative would deepen ongoing digital reforms by extending real-time accountability to warehousing and commodity management, ensuring that medical supplies are efficiently tracked from the Central Medical Store to health facilities across the state.
“What you have come to do is to expand access to that digital programme so that our warehousing system is fully integrated. Whatever is done in the store can be accounted for, and at any given time we know exactly what is available in real time. We are looking at how to ensure everything works seamlessly,” the Commissioner said.
He added: “The partnership with ECEWS is vital in ensuring that we eliminate gaps, prevent stock-outs and maintain absolute accountability across all distribution channels, from the central store down to the facility level.”
Earlier, ECEWS State Director, Dr. Joseph Umana, said the visit was aimed at deepening collaboration with the Ministry and supporting the state’s efforts to modernise inventory management through digital technology, in line with global best practices for health commodity management.
Speaking on the proposed intervention, ECEWS Senior Technical Advisor for Logistics and Pharmacy, Ms. Sifon Usang, said the organisation was proposing the deployment of its digital logistics management platform, ENVO, to automate inventory processes at the Central Medical Store.
She explained that the platform would provide real-time visibility of stock balances, monitor product expiration dates and enable authorised state and facility personnel to track commodity movement electronically, replacing the current paper-based documentation system.
Also speaking, ECEWS Technical Advisor, Mr. Kelechi Mofunanya, said the intervention is designed to promote sustainability and strengthen state ownership of the medical supply chain. He noted that the initiative addresses existing gaps in the management of laboratory consumables and other commodities procured directly by the state by integrating them into a single digital inventory platform.
According to him, the project, being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry’s Director of Pharmaceutical Services and the State Logistics Management Coordinating Unit (LMCU), will equip state personnel with the capacity to manage forecasting, stock issuance and procurement documentation through an integrated digital system.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Health and ECEWS, including the Director of Administration, Mrs. Mary Ntun; S.MDS, Dr. Stephen Agbor; Technical Advisors Kenneth William and Mr. Kelechi Mofunanya; Assistant Director Kenneth Odey; Programme Assistant Chibiko Osita; and SASCP-SMOH HIV Focal Person, Mrs. Margaret Esu.
By Kingsley Agim
