Profile Of Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, Cross River State Commissioner For Health
Profile Of Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, Cross River Commissioner For Health
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit" — Aristotle.
Nothing can best describe the man, Elder Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, than the aphorism above. A man of many firsts who has not only excelled in many areas of life but has repeatedly done so. To him, excellence has become a habit rather than an act. His nomination as Commissioner by the Government of Cross River State, clearly attest to the fact that a golden fish has no hiding place.
Born in Bendeghe Ekim in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Henry Egbe Ayuk is a renowned medical doctor, epidemiologist, and public health physician with overwhelming wealth of experience in health system management, primary healthcare development and global health. He attended the popular and elite Government College, Katsina-Ala in Benue State. The young Ayuk was admitted to the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan where he bagged his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1986. Upon graduation from University of Ibadan, he did his internship at Immanuel Hospital Eket, Primary Health Center Iseyin, Oyo state for NYSC and subsequently in rural health establishments (private, public and faith based) in Nigeria before commencing further training and career in public health and development in 2002. He earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2006 from the University of Calabar and an Msc in Medical Epidemiology in 2007 from the University of Ibadan. He obtained a Ph.D in Development and Global Health Sociology in 2017 from the University of Calabar. He investigated the health economics of poor HIV households as his doctoral thesis.
He has additional professional trainings and certificates in Project Management and Leadership in Health from the University of Washington as well as a post graduate certificate in Health System (Cancun, Mexico 2009), among others.
Dr. Ayuk has over 30 years cognate working experience in medicine, public health and development sectors. Within this span, he had provided managerial and technical leadership at all levels of healthcare in Nigeria for the implementation of projects supported by international donors and partners including PEPFAR/USAID, Global Fund, WHO, World Bank, FHI360 AFRICARE etc. He is a key player in epidemic management and control of HIV, TB, Malaria and COVID-19 in Nigeria and Cross River State in particular.
Prior to his work in the development and global health, He had a successful career spanning over 15years rendering public service to the people of Cross River State. During his stay in the state civil service, he helped establish the first HIV Counselling and Testing Center at Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital Calabar. Before he was made Commissioner, he worked with Global Fund and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) where he provided technical assistance to the Cross River State Ministry of Health on private sector integration of HIV, TB and Malaria.
Before his appointment, the astute medical professional was also a part time facilitator at the National Open University of Nigeria where he taught and supervised research projects of postgraduate students of Public Health.
His outstanding contributions to health sector development include:
1. Scaling down of HIV prevalence from 6.1% in 2010 to less than 2% in 2017 in Cross River State;
2. Development of integrated training curriculum, protocols for quality assurance and checklists for integrated supportive supervision in primary healthcare in Nigeria;
3. Rollout of HIV programming for key populations in 36 states and FCT;
4. Development of drug decentralized distribution systems in COVID-19 era in Bayelsa State.
In moving the state forward, Dr. Ayuk will work with the Governor to establish flagship inovations in health sector and primary health care in particular that will improve rural health access and utilization, reduce financial risk of the poor in seeking healthcare and enhance supportive secondary health systems and training.
His expertise in the Health Sector and International Development, positions him as an invaluable asset in shaping effective health policies and driving sustainable growth in Cross River State. He is a devoted party man; highly cerebral, yet humble to the core.
As an active Political player, he served as the Executive Chairman of Ikom Local Government between 1991–1993. He is an active player in the All Progressive Congress. He served as a member of Cross River State APC Peace and Reconciliation Committee in 2022 and was the Director General of the Incredible Medical Team Support Group of APC. He was the head of Prince Otu Medical team during the campaign and also served as the Secretary of the Health Cluster of the Transition Review Commitment set up by His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu.
A devout Christian, Dr. Ayuk is an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. He is the Health Coordinator of the Upper Cross River Synod of the church and member of the board of governors of the new Presbyterian College of Health Technology, Mbembe Obubra CRS.
Dr Ayuk is married to Rita his soulmate and also an Elder of the church. Together God has given them brilliant children who are now professionals in law, medicine, computer and management sciences.
