The Cross River State Government has pledged institutional support for a grassroots initiative by youths of Ekukunela Community in Ikom Local Government Area aimed at combating drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking, self-medication, cultism and crime among young people. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, gave the assurance on Friday when representatives of the Ekukunela Advancement Forum (EAF) paid him an advocacy visit in Calabar to seek the partnership of the State Ministry of Health for their proposed “Clean Up Our Community Project.”
The initiative, scheduled for official flag-off on Friday, September 18, 2026, at St. Enda’s Catholic Church, Ekukunela, is themed “Together We Can Secure a Drug and Crime-Free Future.” The organisers described it as a multidimensional grassroots enlightenment campaign designed to go beyond conventional environmental sanitation by addressing drug abuse, criminality and other social challenges threatening the wellbeing and future of young people.
Ayuk described drug abuse as a major public health concern, particularly because of its links to mental health challenges, violence, criminality, school dropout and cultism. He said the growing burden of substance abuse was one of the reasons mental health had become an important component of healthcare delivery across different levels, stressing that efforts to tackle cultism must also address drug abuse because of their close relationship.
“Drug abuse has become a key public health issue. And that is why it is being incorporated into mental health. Mental health has become a prominent unit for integrating healthcare services across all levels,” Ayuk said, adding that reducing substance abuse would help reduce young people’s vulnerability to cultism and associated violence.
The Commissioner emphasised that government could not carry the burden of combating drug abuse alone, calling for stronger community participation and ownership. He noted that people involved in drug abuse and illicit activities were often known within their communities, making grassroots involvement essential to identifying problems and achieving sustainable results.
“You need to ensure that the communities are carried along because these people that are into drug abuse are within the community. The community knows them, so you can’t clean up the community without ensuring that the community is involved,” Ayuk said.
He also clarified that drug abuse was not limited to substances commonly regarded as hard drugs, explaining that any medication taken contrary to its prescription could constitute abuse. He therefore urged greater public enlightenment on self-medication and said the Ministry would work with relevant structures, including the Health Quality and Anti-Quackery Task Force and the Drug Management Agency, to support the initiative and strengthen regulation of medicines.
Ayuk advocated deliberate mapping of persons and outlets involved in the buying and selling of medicines to establish whether they were duly authorised to operate. He said addressing drug abuse required attention to the sources and distribution channels of medicines, as well as collaboration among health authorities, law enforcement agencies, communities and other relevant stakeholders.
Assuring the representatives of government support, the Commissioner said relevant government agencies would be made available to facilitate the programme and pledged assistance with logistics where necessary. “As you are going to start it in our community, the Cross River State Government will support you. I’ve already told you the agencies of government that will give you access and support you,” he said.
Ayuk further urged the organisers to map healthcare service providers and facilities within Ekukunela, including primary healthcare centres, pharmacies and patent medicine vendors, noting that such an exercise would strengthen access to legitimate healthcare services and provide a clearer picture of healthcare resources available to residents.
In their formal request dated August 10, 2026, the Ekukunela Advancement Forum sought an institutional partnership with the Ministry of Health for the sustainability of the project. The Forum also invited Ayuk as Special Guest to the flag-off, requested a comprehensive lecture on self-medication, drug abuse and illicit drugs, and proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the event. The request was jointly signed by Comrade Enya Collins N., President, Ekukunela Advancement Forum; Richard E. Agbor, Secretary, Ekukunela Advancement Forum; and Comrade Adonis Obongha Ayang, President, Ekukunela Youth Council.
The campaign will feature enlightenment programmes across communities, primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions and worship centres, alongside quizzes, debates, playwriting and content-creation competitions. The organisers also plan to use entertainment, mainstream media and social media to promote behavioural change and discourage drug abuse, trafficking and criminality.
The September 18 flag-off is expected to attract about 2,000 participants from Ofutop Land, including traditional rulers, clan heads and chiefs, representatives from the 37 communities, youth leaders, schoolchildren, heads of schools, religious leaders, government officials, health professionals, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Ekukunela Advancement Forum said the proposed partnership would strengthen the reach of government health and preventive programmes at the grassroots, expressing confidence that sustained collaboration among government, communities, traditional institutions, schools, religious bodies, health professionals and security agencies would contribute significantly to protecting young people and securing a healthier, safer and drug-free future for Cross River State.
By Kingsley Agim
