The Cross River State Ministry of Health has taken steps to finalize a unified strategic roadmap aimed at revitalizing the state’s medical supply chain system.
This followed a high-level consultative session held recently at the office of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, where stakeholders aligned plans for warehouse transition and sustainable logistics through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Addressing management staff and partners, Dr. Ayuk emphasized the need for a functional and centralized system, describing the state’s medical warehouse as a “cosmopolitan body” that must drive procurement and efficient distribution of health commodities.
“If you say you have an agency and there is no warehouse, it is not good enough,” he said, stressing that future management must comply strictly with regulatory standards.
The Permanent Secretary, Jonah Bassey Offor, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the health system through transparency and institutional stability.
“Following oversight visits from the National Global Fund team, we recognized the urgent need for more transparent management. This transition is critical to ensuring the Ministry benefits from its strategic assets,” he noted.
On sustainability, Country Director of the Global Health Supply Chain Programme–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), Jef Imams, highlighted the need to transition operations to government ownership within the next 18 months.
“A Public-Private Partnership model is vital for long-term sustainability. Our goal is to build a system that continues beyond the programme’s direct involvement,” he said.
Also speaking, Technical Project Director, Dinda James, stressed the importance of maintaining high operational standards to avoid disruptions during the transition.
“Our role is to ensure a seamless process and sustain, even improve, progress in commodity distribution as the state takes the lead,” she stated.
The Director of Programme Operations and Regional Coordinator, Babatunde Ayedun, added that the warehouse’s evolution into a South-South regional hub would align Cross River with national health objectives while addressing local needs through a structured approach.
In his remarks, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Ezong Sunday, said the newly inaugurated eight-man committee is prepared to ensure professionalism and effective collaboration with private sector partners.
“We are ready to work with private sector partners to bring professionalism to operations while ensuring the state remains the primary beneficiary,” he said.
The meeting accentuates the importance of operationalizing the regional hub as a key component of the state’s long-term health infrastructure and “People First” agenda.
To sustain the reforms, the Ministry also harmonized departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support a smooth transition to efficient, full-scale operations.
Other officials present included the Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Roseline Obojor-Ogar; Coordinator of the Logistics Management Coordination Unit, Mr. Lekam Enang Adam; and Director of Medical Training and Services, Dr. Patrick Osans.
