Detailing News

  Cross River State Representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Rt. Hon. Otuekong Orok Duke, PhD, has called for inter-agency collaboration between government and partners, to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS.  In a message to commemorate the World AIDS Day, Orok expressed deep concerns over what he described as "continuous spread" of the disease, while calling for a stop to the stigmatization of persons those that tested positive.  "Today, I join the government of Nigeria and the global community, to lend my voice to this decades-long pandemic. It is also worrisome to see that with government's efforts to end spread, the prevalent rate is still high. Stigmatization is also high and this is responsible for the continued spread because, infected persons out of fear of stigmatization, rather remain discrete about their status", Orok added.  Findings by UNAID indicates that there are over 1.3 million new infections in 2024. This figur...

  By Kingsley Agim The House of Representatives Committee on Health Care Services has applauded the Cross River State Government for recording impressive milestones in primary healthcare revitalization through the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The Committee, led by its Chairman, Hon. Amos Magaji, made the commendation during a recent oversight visit to assess the implementation of key health interventions across the state. Addressing journalists at the end of the tour, Hon. Magaji praised Governor Bassey Otu for his administration’s “clear vision and political resolve” to strengthen the healthcare delivery system, describing the reforms as a model of intergovernmental collaboration between the state and the federal government. “What we have seen in Cross River is remarkable. The primary healthcare system here is undergoing genuine renewal,” Magaji noted. “G...

  By Our Correspondent In a major public health intervention aimed at improving child health and school performance, a non-governmental organization, Evidence Action, has unveiled plans to deworm over 912,854 school-aged children across 14 Local Government Areas in Cross River State. The announcement was made during a press briefing in Calabar on Saturday, where the organisation’s Senior Manager, Mr. Toochi Ohaji, disclosed that the state-wide deworming campaign is scheduled to commence from May 14 to May 20, 2025. Speaking alongside the State Coordinator of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Mrs. Veronica Mark, from the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Mr. Ohaji emphasized that the campaign is focused on promoting better health outcomes among children aged five to fourteen years, with the ultimate goal of eliminating intestinal worm infections in school-age populations. “Our mission is to ensure that children, particularly those most vulnerable, are free from parasitic worm ...

The Cross River State government has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Obubra Local Government Area (LGA) following the death of a 30-year-old male farmer from Unincha community. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, announced the outbreak in a statement dated February 24, 2025, revealing that the victim succumbed to the disease on February 17 at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FUTHA), Ebonyi State. According to the report, the farmer had been ill for several days before seeking medical attention at FUTHA on February 15. He tested positive for Lassa Fever on February 16, but despite receiving treatment, he passed away the following day. His remains were prepared at FUTHA and transported to Unincha for a supervised burial, conducted by the Obubra LGA Rapid Response Team. In response to the outbreak, the Cross River State Lassa Fever Emergency Operation Center was activated on February 18 by Dr. Ayuk, with state and LGA rapid response teams de...

The Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (CR-SACA), Dr Charles Iwara, has urged staff to adopt a result-oriented approach, demonstrate unwavering commitment, and dedicate themselves to their duties as the agency intensifies its HIV intervention efforts in 2025. Iwara who was addressing Staff during a well attended enlarged meeting in his office in Calabar on Tuesday, emphasized the importance of putting aside individual differences and working collaboratively towards achieving the agency's goals for the overall success of the state.  "It's time for us to bury the hatchet, forge ahead, and focus on delivering exceptional results in our HIV intervention programs. I have never been associated with failure and I want you to key into my philosophy so we can succeed in what ever we are doing in this agency," he stressed. The Director General's call to action comes as CR-SACA prepares to implement its strategic plan for 2025, which...

  By Kingsley Agim  Following the recent outbreak of abnormal sleep disorders in Ebom community of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River, the State Government has ordered the investigation of all medicine sellers especially patent medicine vendors operating in Ebom and other communities of Abi Local Govt Area. Recall that Ebom community, over a week ago, was hit with sleep disorders suspected to be due to trypanosomiasis or substance abuse leaving several residents hospitalized. The Health Commissioner, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk and the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Vivien Mesembe Otu, and their teams expedited swift action to arrest the situation.  A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, and made available to journalists on Tuesday,  directed the directorates of medical and pharmaceutical services of the State Ministry of Health to institute an urgent investigation into activities of  of loc...

  By Kingsley Agim  Governor Bassey Otu's efforts to revitalize the health sector in Cross River have earned commendation from the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).  The NMA said the Governor's tireless puissance for an improved health sector and the achievements recorded so far have been impressive. The Cross River NMA's plaudits were conveyed through its Chairman, Dr. Ezoeke Epoke, during a congratulatory visit by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk to the new Executives of the Association, recently, in Calabar. The NMA Chairman praised the Governor's unflinching resolve towards recovering the State's healthcare from its sorry past through deliberate efforts to strengthen human resources, anti quackery and health quality, and improvements in fiscal allocations for the sector as well as health access for vulnerable populations of the State, adding that the present administration is laying a solid foundation for a healt...

  In a move that echoes the power of unity and collective action, Dr. Charles Iwara, Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), has pledged to collaborate with various youth and students bodies in Cross River State to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. This groundbreaking partnership aims to harness the energy, creativity, and influence of young people in the fight against the disease. As Dr. Iwara welcomed to his office a delegation of Cross River State Comrade Community, led by Ambassador Samuel Ben, Rt. Hon. Victor Kejuo, Speaker of the Cross River State Youth Parliament, and Sen. Ogaga Faith Uchi, the Senate President of National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS), the SACA DG's promise to incorporate the youths in sensitization and mobilization efforts resonated deeply, sparking a sense of ownership and responsibility among the young leaders. "HIV and AIDS are not distant threats; they are real, and they are still very much aroun...

   By Kingsley Agim  Cross River State Government's effort against against cholera and other disease outbreaks in the State has received further impetus with the donation of medical commodities by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speaking while presenting the items to the State Commissioner for Health at the Ministry's headquarters, recently in Calabar, the Coordinator of WHO in the State, Dr. Yewande Olatunde appreciated the State Government for the strong surveillance and other measures put in place to prevent and mitigate cholera and other epidemics in the Cross River.  Olatunde stated that WHO concerns itself with supporting surveillance systems in Nigeria and will continue to leverage on the robust relationship with the State to ensure the objectives of preventing outbreaks are met.  The WHO official pointed out that the items donated will be used to further enhance monitoring and strengthening of infection control in health facilities across the state....