The Cross River State Government has commended the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) for donating solar power systems to health facilities providing health and HIV services across the state, describing the intervention as a major boost to healthcare delivery and service sustainability.
The commendation was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, Tuesday, while receiving the solar power equipment on behalf of the state government.
Dr. Ayuk expressed appreciation to ECEWS for what he described as a timely and impactful intervention that would significantly improve service delivery in beneficiary facilities.
“This intervention, which the State Government is very appreciative of, further strengthens our healthcare facilities and demonstrates a genuine commitment to the health of our people.”
He noted that reliable electricity remains critical to effective healthcare delivery, particularly for laboratory services, drug storage, and patient care, adding that the solar installation would significantly enhance operational efficiency across supported facilities.
Dr. Ayuk attributed the increasing confidence of development partners in Cross River State to the enabling environment created by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, which he said has strengthened collaboration and restored trust in the health sector.
“Before this administration came on board, partners were leaving in droves because the environment was not conducive,” he said. “Today, we have stable partnerships because the government has created an atmosphere that encourages collaboration.”
He assured that the Ministry of Health would ensure strict supervision, proper deployment, and maintenance of the solar systems to guarantee maximum impact and long-term sustainability across all beneficiary facilities.
Presenting the solar systems, the State Director of ECEWS, Dr. Joe Umana, said the intervention was implemented on behalf of the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Ayo, as part of efforts to strengthen HIV service delivery and ensure sustainability of health programmes in the state.
Dr. Umana disclosed that the intervention included 60 units of 600W bifacial solar panels, one 10KVA Felicity lithium battery, one 10KVA Felicity inverter, six 200Ah 12V Felicity gel batteries, and five 7.5KVA Felicity lithium batteries, deployed across selected health facilities based on their energy requirements.
Explaining the distribution of the solar power systems, Dr. Umana informed that Sacred Heart Catholic Hospital Obudu will receive a complete solar overhaul comprising a 10KVA inverter and 10KW lithium battery system, while Ogoja Catholic Maternity Hospital, Ogoja General Hospital, Yala Lutheran Hospital, Akpet Central Cottage Hospital and Ikang Primary Health Centre each will benefit from upgraded 5KVA inverter systems with 7.5KW lithium batteries.
Other beneficiary facilities, including Eja Memorial Hospital, Mount Zion Medical Centre and Ekorinim Health Centre, received two 200AH gel batteries each, while Ikot Enebong Health Post also benefited from the intervention.
Dr. Umana said the solar installations were designed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply for HIV-related services, including diagnostics, medicine storage and patient care, thereby strengthening the resilience of healthcare delivery across the state.
By Kingsley Agim
