Cross River Government Mobilizes Local Councils to Strengthen Grassroots Healthcare
By Ebi COLLINS
In a renewed drive to improve healthcare at the grassroots level, the Cross River State Government has called on Local Government Chairmen to take a more active role in implementing key health initiatives aimed at expanding access to quality medical services across the state.
At a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Calabar, state health officials met with local government chairmen, health supervisors, and other stakeholders to strategize on improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing health insurance coverage, and boosting service delivery in rural communities.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, stressed the need for strong collaboration between the state and local governments to ensure equitable access to healthcare. He urged council leaders to prioritize health programs in their jurisdictions, emphasizing Governor Bassey Otu’s commitment to revitalizing the healthcare sector through targeted interventions, including palliative health programs, an expanded health insurance scheme, infrastructure upgrades, recruitment of critical healthcare personnel, and strategic partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
“The health and well-being of our people depend on our collective efforts. Governance must be a shared responsibility across all levels, ensuring that no community is left behind in accessing quality healthcare,” Dr. Ayuk stated. He also announced the introduction of monthly performance reviews with LGA health supervisors to monitor progress and address challenges at the grassroots level.
Speaking on the financial sustainability of healthcare, the Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Chief Godwin Iyala, highlighted the importance of health insurance in making medical care more affordable. He encouraged local governments to invest in health insurance schemes that pool resources to fund hospital renovations, recruit medical professionals, and provide affordable healthcare services for citizens.
“Health insurance is the key to sustainable healthcare. By pooling resources, we can ease the financial burden on families while improving service quality,” Iyala explained. He also introduced the Adoption Method, a model in which government officials and philanthropists sponsor individuals or communities for a year of free healthcare coverage.
Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, urged local government chairmen to closely monitor the renovation of nearly 100 healthcare facilities currently underway across the state. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that contractors adhere to quality standards and deliver on their commitments.
“These projects belong to your people. Supervise them closely and report any irregularities,” Dr. Otu advised. She commended Governor Otu’s ₦100 million capital investment in primary healthcare and cautioned that poor project execution could hinder future funding opportunities.
Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area and leader of the Cross River State Chairmen Forum, Hon. Yibala Igri, called for clearer directives on the roles of local governments in healthcare administration. He acknowledged previous communication gaps that had created uncertainty for many local council officials in implementing health programs and emphasized the need for ongoing engagement to ensure effective collaboration.
Hon. Igri also reiterated the importance of expanding health insurance coverage, noting that local government chairmen would assess financial models to determine how best to contribute and ensure more communities benefit from affordable healthcare.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, improve oversight, and implement sustainable healthcare reforms that would enhance service delivery across Cross River State.
