The Cross River State Government has opened a four-day review of the Minimum Service Package (MSP) document as part of Governor Bassey Otu’s “People-First” agenda, marking a renewed commitment to delivering quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.
Declaring the event open at Franphinas Suites, Calabar, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, charged participants to take full advantage of the review to sharpen their capacities for effective healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities. He described the MSP review as a “critical step in repositioning Cross River’s health system to be more responsive, equitable, and people-focused.”
In her welcome address, Director General of CRSPHCDA, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, described the exercise as a milestone in the state’s quest to achieve better health outcomes. She noted that the review will provide a practical framework for monitoring service delivery, identifying gaps, and improving planning and coordination. According to her, the agency is determined to achieve at least a 90 percent benchmark across all nine pillars of the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy recommended by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Dr. Otu expressed gratitude to development partners, including NPHCDA, UNICEF, WHO, and the State Ministry of Health, for their steadfast collaboration. She emphasized that sustained partnership remains key to delivering effective and people-centered healthcare in the state.
Adding perspective, retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Etim Ayi, outlined the core purpose of the Minimum Service Package. He explained that the MSP is designed to address deprivations by tackling multiple challenges faced by vulnerable populations; prevent social problems such as poverty, violence, early pregnancies, and preventable diseases; ensure essential access to vital services in crises or underserved areas; and serve as a strategic investment tool for channeling limited resources to achieve the highest possible quality of care.
The four-day meeting, holding from September 16–19, has drawn senior government officials, development partners, and key health stakeholders. Notable attendees include Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Senior Adviser on Health to the Governor; Mrs. Uduak Spencer Efem, Senior Special Adviser on Nursing Education; and Dr. Godwin Iyala, Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA).
Also present are Dr. Ushie D.E., Technical Adviser on Universal Health Coverage; Mr. Okechukwu Christian, State Coordinator of NPHCDA; Barr. Lucy B. Enakirerhi, Permanent Secretary of CRSPHCDA; Dr. Peter A. U., Permanent Secretary of Budget; and Utsalo Carmeline, Program Coordinator at ZIPLINE, alongside directors, frontline health workers, and other stakeholders.
Deliberations are expected to conclude with actionable recommendations that will guide the state in building a stronger, more inclusive, and people-centered PHC system, further consolidating Governor Otu’s health sector reforms.
