By Onwa Ekor
As Cross River hosts the 66th National Council on Health session, the nation’s coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has lauded the state for its strong alignment with national health priorities and visible ongoing reforms across the health system.
Pate gave the commendation, Wednesday, upon his arrival in Calabar, the state capital, for the nation’s highest health policy making body.
According to him, Cross River has demonstrated remarkable commitment through the upgrading of primary and secondary healthcare facilities, strengthening the health workforce, and improving service delivery in ways that mirror the federal government’s renewed health agenda under President Bola Tinubu.
“The progress we have seen in Cross River is impressive as the state is clearly among those at the forefront of implementing reforms that align with national priorities.
“Collaboration between federal and state governments remains the foundation for a resilient national health system,” the health minister said.
He highlighted ongoing national efforts, such as improvements in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, expansion of the primary healthcare network, training of over 70,000 frontline workers, and upgrades of tertiary hospitals, maintaining that, such progress can only be sustainable when states like Cross River actively drive reforms at the subnational level.
He lauded the state for its hospitality and readiness to host the Council, describing the NCH as “Nigeria’s highest health policy-making body,” mandated under the National Health Act 2014 to shape the direction of the country’s health governance, financing, quality standards and health security systems.
Pate expressed gratitude to the Obong of Calabar for his royal blessings to the national health delegation and reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to supporting states that demonstrate clear dedication to healthcare delivery.
He posited that the resolutions emerging from the NCH in Calabar will shape Nigeria’s health trajectory in the coming year, with focus on governance, financing, quality improvement, service delivery and emergency preparedness.
Receiving the Minister at the State Executive Chambers, Calabar, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, said his administration has made the health sector a top priority.
He noted that his administration had, in the last two years, invested heavily in rehabilitating and equipping health facilities, providing essential medicines, improving water and sanitation systems, and expanding operational support across all 18 local government areas.
Otu highlighted the near completion of the state-of-the-art General Hospital at Ikom, describing it as one of the largest secondary health facilities currently being delivered in the state.
He added that the reforms are being driven through a coordinated agenda led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk.
“Every request concerning healthcare has received urgent attention from this administration.
“We are deliberately rebuilding the health system from the ground up,” Otu disclosed.
He also invited the Minister and his delegation to this year’s Carnival Calabar festivities, stating that the state is proud to host a national gathering of health leaders and policymakers.
The 66th National Council on Health continues in Calabar, where ministers, commissioners, development partners and experts will be deliberating on key policies to strengthen Nigeria’s health sector.
