Health Information Digitization: C’River IMPACT Project Trains Health Workers, Donates 196 Laptops to PHCs
By Ebi COLLINS
In a bid to enhance health information management, the World Bank-assisted Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project recently conducted a three-day digitization training for Officers in Charge (OICs) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers from 196 health facilities across Cross River State.
The training was preceded by the official handover of 196 laptops, ensuring that each Primary Health Care (PHC) center—one per political ward in the state—received a device to facilitate digital health data management.
Presenting the laptops to participants and health officials, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, commended the World Bank for funding the initiative, describing it as a game-changer for the state’s Primary Health Care system.
Dr. Ayuk emphasized that digitizing health information management would significantly strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in Cross River, enabling more efficient data collection, storage, and retrieval. He urged participants to leverage the digital skills acquired during the training and to ensure the laptops are used effectively to improve service delivery at the PHC level.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, highlighted the significance of the initiative. She noted that the introduction of digital data management would eliminate data loss in health facilities, positioning Cross River among the leading states in Nigeria with an advanced health information system.
Dr. Otu assured that her agency would maintain strict oversight of all PHCs to ensure the laptops are put to optimal use, reinforcing accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
Earlier, the IMPACT Project Manager, Dr. Paul Odey, reaffirmed the project’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare services, particularly in rural communities.
Represented by Dr. Bethel Ewung, Dr. Odey emphasized that data collection is a fundamental aspect of effective healthcare service delivery. He stressed that a robust information management system is crucial for improving healthcare outcomes, adding that the training and laptop distribution would help bridge critical gaps in health data management across the state.
Participants expressed confidence that the training and digital tools would enhance patient care at the Primary Health Care level, ensuring greater efficiency, accuracy, and improved health outcomes across the state.
The training was held at the 520 Kolanut Conference Centre, Barracks Road, Calabar, from February 4–6, 2025, also held at the northern and central senatorial districts concurrently.
