In a renewed push to enhance healthcare delivery at the grassroots level, the Cross River State Government has urged Local Government Chairmen to actively support and implement key health initiatives aimed at improving healthcare services across the state.
At a high-level meeting held on Wednesday at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Calabar, state health officials engaged with local government chairmen, their health supervisors, and other key stakeholders to strategize on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding health insurance coverage, and improving service delivery in rural communities.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, highlighted the critical role of collaboration between the state and local governments in ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare. He urged local government leaders to prioritize health programs within their jurisdictions, reinforcing Governor Bassey Otu’s commitment to revitalizing and transforming the healthcare sector through palliative health interventions, an improved health insurance scheme, infrastructure upgrades, recruitment of critical healthcare professionals, and strategic partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
“The health and well-being of our people depend on our collective efforts. Governance must involve collaboration at and between all levels of government. We must ensure that no community is left behind in accessing quality healthcare,” Dr. Ayuk stated.
He emphasized the need for regular engagement with local government officials and announced the commencement of a monthly review with LGA health supervisors to monitor grassroots healthcare performance across the state.
The Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Chief Godwin Iyala, stressed the transformative role of health insurance in making medical care more accessible and affordable. He encouraged local government leaders to invest in insurance schemes that pool resources to fund hospital renovations, recruit medical personnel, and provide affordable healthcare for citizens.
“Health insurance is the key to sustainable healthcare. Through pooled resources, we can significantly reduce the financial burden on families while improving the quality of services,” Iyala explained.
He also introduced the Adoption Method, a model in which government officials and philanthropists sponsor individuals or communities for a year of free healthcare coverage.
The Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, urged local government chairmen to closely monitor the renovation of nearly 100 healthcare facilities currently underway across the state. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that contractors adhere to quality standards and deliver projects as expected.
“These projects belong to your people. Supervise them closely and report any irregularities,” Dr. Otu advised.
She commended Governor Otu’s ₦100 million capital investment in primary healthcare and warned that poor project execution could jeopardize future funding opportunities.
The Chairman of Yakurr LGA and Chairman of the Cross River State Chairmen Forum, Hon. Yibala Igri, called for clearer directives defining local governments’ roles in healthcare administration.
Speaking at the meeting, he acknowledged past communication gaps and the uncertainty many local government officials face in implementing health initiatives. He stressed the need for continuous engagement to ensure local governments effectively support state health programs.
Hon. Igri also highlighted the importance of health insurance, stating that local government chairmen would assess financial models to determine the best ways to contribute and expand coverage for their communities.
By Kingsley Agim
