Posted on: Thu 04-09-2025

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has restated his administration’s resolve to place healthcare at the heart of governance, describing it as a cornerstone of his People First agenda.

Speaking at the State Health Sector Colloquium held on Tuesday at the State Library Complex, Calabar, the Governor, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, said healthcare delivery is more than a social service—it is a vital engine for economic growth and sustainable development.

“The health sector remains one of the four focal points of this administration,” Otu declared. “Healthcare delivery is not just a welfare service but a critical driver of economic growth and human development. Only a healthy citizen can create wealth and drive other indices of development.”

The Governor outlined major strides in the sector over the past two years, noting that 82 Primary Health Centres have been renovated and equipped across the state’s 18 local government areas. He also highlighted the upgrading of dialysis centres in Calabar and Ogoja, the construction of a new General Hospital in Ikom, the equipping of the Fistula Centre in Calabar, and the accreditation of all four Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery.

Other initiatives include the Sweet Prince Palliative Healthcare Programme, which provides free services to pregnant women, children under five, and citizens aged 70 and above, as well as the activation of the State Health Insurance Scheme.

In collaboration with UNICEF, the government is also setting up medical oxygen plants at the general hospitals in Calabar and Ogoja to improve critical care delivery.

With the theme “Transforming Health, Transforming Lives”, the colloquium brought together government officials and health stakeholders to assess progress in the sector and chart fresh pathways for reform. Otu assured that recommendations from the forum would be integrated into the state’s ongoing health policies.

The Governor commended participants for their commitment and pledged that his administration would sustain investments in healthcare to ensure a healthier population and improve the well-being of Cross Riverians.

---

---