Health Sector Reform in Focus as Cross River, UNFPA, WHO Convene SWAp 2026 Workshop
By Ebi COLLINS
The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its determination to strengthen the health system and deliver people-centred healthcare as it concluded a five-day workshop for the development of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP).
The workshop, jointly organized by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), was held at Gomays Plaza Hotel, Calabar, from Monday to Friday.
Declaring the workshop open, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, said the forum represented another bold step by the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration towards consolidating reforms in the health sector. He stressed that the plan was a critical tool for achieving sustainable health outcomes and called on all stakeholders to work with a shared vision of strengthening the system to deliver quality and accessible healthcare to all.
In her goodwill message, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivian Mesembe Otu, said the SWAp framework provides a platform to align government priorities with partner support in a way that avoids duplication and ensures efficiency. She assured participants of the Agency’s commitment to the implementation of the plan at the grassroots level, where primary healthcare remains the foundation of the state’s health system.
Delivering his welcome remarks, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics (DHPRS) at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Chris Ushuasung, described the workshop as a significant milestone in the collective journey towards a more coordinated and impactful health sector. He noted that the 2026 AOP is not just a routine exercise but a deliberate process to consolidate gains, address persisting challenges, mobilize resources more effectively, and strengthen accountability across all levels.
According to him, the SWAp 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Development Process is designed to strengthen sector-wide planning and coordination by harmonizing all health sector interventions under a single strategic framework that aligns with the State Health Strategic Development Plan, the National Health Sector priorities, and the Cross River State Government’s agenda.
He explained that the process also seeks to promote evidence-based and results-oriented planning, ensuring that programmatic decisions, resource allocations, and performance indicators for 2026 are guided by reliable data, research findings, and lessons learned from previous AOP cycles. It further aims to identify available financial and technical resources from government, partners, and other stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in budgeting while avoiding duplication of efforts.
The DHPRS Director emphasized that the AOP development is participatory, involving government MDAs, LGAs, program managers, development partners, and health professionals, thereby strengthening ownership and accountability. It is also intended to define measurable targets, indicators, and reporting mechanisms that will track progress, improve data use, and enhance adaptive learning within the health system.
He added that the workshop prioritizes the design of interventions that address health inequities, improve access to quality services at the primary healthcare level, and protect the most vulnerable populations in Cross River State. In addition, it seeks to build the capacity of health managers and strengthen institutional frameworks that ensure continuity, sustainability, and resilience of health programs beyond 2026.
The five-day technical engagement dealt with critical themes such as Setting the Stage: Why the Workshop and What it is Expected to Achieve; Sector-Wide Approach in Nigeria: The Journey So Far; Setting the Stage for the 2026 AOP Development; Operationalizing the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB) 2023–2027; HSSB MEARL Plan – Overview and Guidelines; Roadmap to 2026 AOP, Health Facility Plans and Budget; Overview of the Web-based AOP Tool; Overview of LGA Facility Annual Planning Tool; Granting of Admin and User Privileges; Mapping and Uploading of SMART Activities into the Web-based Tool by Programme Officers and LGA M&E Officers/National Health Fellows; and Presentations by Programme Officers and LGA M&Es, followed by discussions and corrections.
These sessions were facilitated by no less than seasoned experts, including Mr. Casmir Ugbong, retired Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, and his successor, Mr. Chris Ushuasung, whose technical guidance ensured that participants gained both practical and strategic insights for a more robust health planning process.
Ushuasung expressed gratitude to the Honourable Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary, Directors, Program Managers, and Monitoring & Evaluation Officers for their commitment to driving reforms. He also commended UNFPA and WHO for their technical and financial support, noting that their collaborative spirit has been crucial in advancing innovations and strengthening the resilience of the state’s health system.
Several participants spoke highly of the importance of the workshop, noting that the knowledge gained would greatly enhance their effectiveness as healthcare professionals in the state. They described the process as timely and impactful, stressing that it had equipped them with the tools needed to deliver more efficient, coordinated, and equitable health services for the people of Cross River State.
