By Kingsley Agim
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Care Services has commended the Cross River State Government for its remarkable progress in revitalizing the state’s primary healthcare system through the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), describing the initiative as “a model of intergovernmental collaboration and consistency in healthcare reform.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Amos Magaji, gave the commendation during a recent inspection tour of ongoing IMPACT Project interventions and other healthcare revitalization efforts across the state.
Speaking with journalists after the visit, the lawmaker praised Governor Bassey Otu’s administration for demonstrating strong political will in expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare, noting that the state’s efforts align with Nigeria’s aspiration to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
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“We have inspected several primary healthcare facilities and seen clear evidence of progress. Cross River is on the right path in strengthening its health system. If the present momentum is sustained, every political ward will soon have a functional primary healthcare centre,” Magaji stated.
He explained that the Committee’s oversight mission was to evaluate the deployment of funds under the IMPACT Project and BHCPF, while identifying challenges affecting effective implementation.
“Some of the issues identified, such as manpower shortages and the difficulty of accessing hard-to-reach communities, are generic. We will work with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other stakeholders to review and strengthen policies,” he added.
The lawmaker pledged that challenges requiring federal intervention would be addressed at the National Assembly level, while state-specific concerns would be communicated to the Cross River Government for prompt attention.
“If this administration maintains its current tempo, Cross River will soon become a model for other states in grassroots healthcare delivery and universal coverage,” he concluded.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, lauded Hon. Magaji and his team for the visit, describing it as a testament to the synergy between the federal and state governments.
“What you see on ground today is the result of effective partnerships between the Cross River State Government, the Federal Government, the World Bank, and other development partners,” Dr. Ayuk said.
“In less than two years of this administration, we have witnessed a drastic transformation in our primary healthcare system, both infrastructurally and administratively.”
He highlighted the establishment of the Drug Management Agency as one of the systemic reforms designed to stabilize vaccine and medicine supply chains and reduce stock-outs across the state.
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, revealed that more than 100 primary healthcare facilities have so far been renovated through multiple funding streams, chiefly the IMPACT Project, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and the State Government’s direct interventions.
“When we assumed office, we met many dilapidated facilities. Today, over 100 have been renovated and revitalized,” Dr. Otu said. “We also now have at least two skilled birth attendants deployed to each of the 196 political wards across the state, a major stride in improving maternal and child health outcomes.”
She commended the support of international partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Red Cross, and the Global Fund for their technical and logistical contributions to the state’s healthcare renewal efforts.
The IMPACT Project Manager, Dr. Paul Odey, explained that the initiative aims to upgrade facilities from Level 1 to Level 2, ensuring that primary health centres are fully equipped to deliver comprehensive healthcare services.
“Each Level 2 facility will have consulting rooms, delivery suites, male and female wards, a functional laboratory, a pharmacy, family planning units, perimeter fencing, security, and steady power and water supply,” Dr. Odey stated.
“The IMPACT Project is bridging human resource gaps, strengthening systems, and improving service delivery for mothers and children under five.”
Among the House of Representatives delegation were Cross River’s Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase and Hon. Bassey Akiba of Odukpani/Calabar Municipality Federal Constituencies.
