Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has charged the contractor handling the renovation of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) located at Moore Road, Calabar, to maintain the required standards and work diligently towards completing the project on schedule.
Ayuk gave the charge during a recent inspection of the ongoing comprehensive renovation of the facility, aimed at strengthening disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and rapid response capacity across Cross River State.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the inspection by the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, as he assessed the progress of work at the facility.
Ayuk emphasised the need for the contractor to sustain the pace of work while ensuring that construction standards and specifications were not compromised.
He noted that timely completion of the renovation would enable the state to deploy a modern and functional emergency operations centre capable of serving as a central hub for real-time disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness and coordinated emergency response.
The Commissioner stressed that an upgraded PHEOC would strengthen the state’s ability to detect public health threats early, coordinate interventions and facilitate rapid response to disease outbreaks and other emergencies across the 18 Local Government Areas.
He said the facility would also enhance communication and coordination among relevant health authorities and other stakeholders during public health emergencies.
Ayuk therefore urged the contractor to work diligently towards completing the project, while maintaining the quality and standards required to deliver a facility capable of meeting the state’s public health needs.
The ongoing renovation is part of the State Government’s efforts to strengthen critical health infrastructure and improve the state’s preparedness to respond effectively to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
The Commissioner reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the state’s health system and ensuring that facilities central to disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response receive the necessary attention.
He expressed optimism that the completed PHEOC would significantly enhance Cross River’s public health security and strengthen its capacity to protect residents through timely surveillance, preparedness and coordinated emergency response.
By Kingsley Agim
