Gov. Otu Backs Stronger Disease Surveillance, Health Investment
By Ebi COLLINS
Governor Bassey Otu has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening disease surveillance systems and sustaining investments in the health sector as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery and safeguard residents against public health threats.
The Governor's position was conveyed on Friday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, who represented him at the 12th Annual National Conference of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria (ESN) held in Calabar.
The conference, which attracted epidemiologists, public health experts, researchers, policymakers and development partners from across the country, focused on strengthening Nigeria's preparedness and response to disease outbreaks under the theme, "Strengthening Epidemiological Resilience in Nigeria: Addressing Emerging and Re-emerging Health Challenges."
Speaking on behalf of Governor Otu, Ayuk commended the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria for its continued partnership and contributions toward improving healthcare delivery and advancing the goal of Universal Health Coverage in the country.
He said the administration's commitment to disease surveillance and healthcare development is reflected in sustained investments across critical areas of the health sector.
"The present administration, in line with its People's First Agenda, places healthcare at the forefront of its development agenda through sustained investments in primary healthcare, disease surveillance, health insurance coverage, immunisation programmes and healthcare infrastructure across the state," he said.
Continuing , he said the State's investments in healthcare have strengthened service delivery and expanded access to essential health interventions, particularly in underserved communities.
According to him, Cross River remains one of the few states successfully delivering vaccines and essential medicines to hard-to-reach communities, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in accessing quality healthcare services.
"In Cross River, we can boast of health outreach to hard-to-reach communities. This is to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind in accessing quality healthcare services. That is made possible by our administration," further highlighting the successes recorded under the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme, describing it as a major step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and reducing the financial burden of healthcare on residents.
Earlier, National President of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria, Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, called for stronger disease surveillance systems across the country, stressing that early detection and rapid response remain critical to containing outbreaks.
"I am very pleased to welcome all of you to the 12th Annual General Meeting of our Society holding here in the beautiful city of Calabar. In this conference, we will be discussing how we can strengthen epidemiological resilience in Nigeria in view of the recurring disease outbreaks we are experiencing here and in other parts of the world to enable early detection and rapid response, because early detection and rapid response help to curb outbreaks of such diseases," he said.
Ashikeni explained that building epidemiological resilience requires robust surveillance mechanisms, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, continuous capacity building for health professionals and the implementation of evidence-based health policies.
"Effective epidemiological resilience requires robust and consistent surveillance mechanisms, improved sanitation, hygiene practices, continuous capacity building for health professionals, and the implementation of evidence-based health policies to ensure our societies are free from outbreaks," he added.
He also underscored the importance of research institutions in generating scientific evidence to guide public health interventions and policy decisions, describing the conference theme as timely and relevant.
Ashikeni commended the Cross River State Government for its support and commitment, which he said contributed significantly to the successful hosting of the conference in Calabar.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Vivian Otu, stressed the need for resilient health systems capable of responding rapidly to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
She noted that Cross River State has continued to demonstrate resilience through routine disease surveillance and prompt disease investigation mechanisms and called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and stakeholders.
Representing the World Health Organisation, Dr. Rebecca Olatunde urged health experts and practitioners to sustain advocacy for disease surveillance to ensure that public health threats and re-emerging health challenges are adequately addressed.
"Today, I want to urge all health experts and practitioners to sustain the advocacy for disease surveillance to ensure that public health threats and re-emerging health challenges are adequately addressed in our societies," she said.
Participants at the conference agreed that strengthening surveillance systems, investing in healthcare infrastructure, promoting research and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders remain essential to improving Nigeria's capacity to prevent and respond effectively to disease outbreaks.
