The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has acknowledged that Governor Bassey Edet Otu has demonstrated both the willingness and capability to fund nutrition and deliver good governance to the people of the State.
Dr. Ayuk made this known when he received members of the Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria and the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, who visited his office at the Ministry of Health, in Old Secretariat Complex, Calabar.
He highlighted the Governor's efforts as evidenced by the policy framework and coordination activities facilitated by the State Planning Commission, which the Governor chairs.
Dr. Ayuk emphasized that this is a deliberate policy aimed at reducing fragmentation in government efforts to achieve desired outcomes in addressing food security, poverty reduction, and improving the health status of Cross Riverians.
The commissioner assured that the government is committed to addressing the issues identified in the state’s poor performance data through due process to prevent recurrence. He advocated for better budget coordination for relevant MDAs by the State Planning Commission, which is responsible for coordinating nutrition activities within the state.
Dr. Ayuk reassured stakeholders that budget allocations have improved, and he anticipates a corresponding increase in releases by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, aiming for 100% distribution. He cautioned that funds should be strictly used for their intended purposes.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, stated that the visit aimed to appreciate the State Government for its efforts related to nutrition and to request better sharing of data on nutrition interventions among line MDAs noting that State data indicates significant gaps remain regarding issues of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children.
Mr. Okoronkwo urged the government to address poor budget releases to MDAs, stressing the importance of timely releases to enable MDAs to execute their activities within the specified timeframe.
He pointed out that malnutrition is a core contributor to 50% of childhood deaths, highlighting the urgent need for increased funding and addressing the negative effects of malnutrition and anemia in pregnant women and children under five years old.
Attendees included members of the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, members of CS-SUN, and Directors and Heads of Departments from the Ministry of Health.
Iloke Egbe
