Cross River has been spotlighted as a leading force in health reforms as it hosted the 66th Regular Session of the National Council of Health (NCH) for the first time.
The high-level meeting brought together federal and state health officials, policymakers, development partners, medical practitioners, members of the diplomatic corps, service commanders, royal fathers, and the press.
Gov. Bassey Otu, welcomed delegates on Thursday while addressing the 66th National Council on Health (NCH), in Calabar.
Otu, represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, highlighted the state’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing the crucial role of the NCH in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
“This gathering serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibility we collectively bear towards the health and well-being of Nigerians,” he said.
Otu emphasised that the 66th NCH session, themed ‘My Health, My Rights: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation’, was a platform to ensure that healthcare was available to all Nigerians, rich or poor.
He called for strengthened primary health care, a sustainable health workforce, and the provision of health and social insurance schemes aimed at eliminating out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Highlighting Cross River’s health sector reforms, the Governor reeled out several key initiatives.
“The state had launched a Primary Health Care-Based Palliative Programme targeting rural pregnant women, children under five, and the elderly over 70.
“Cross River had also introduced six-month maternity leave for pregnant women, making it a trailblazer in Nigeria.
”The state had received recognition for its high compliance with national nutrition standards, having been previously voted among the best in the country.
“Efforts to revitalise primary health care facilities have been coupled with the full implementation of the Coordinated Medical Salary Structure for medical doctors,” Otu said.
The Governor also said that plans to expand health insurance coverage, particularly in the formal sector were underway.
Additionally, he said, the state was establishing a Drug and Health Community Management Agency to regulate and reduce the rising costs of medicines.
To sustainably develop the middle-level health workforce, Otu said, Cross River was setting up four Colleges of Nursing across the state.
He further highlighted that since his administration took office, over 100 primary health care centres across all 18 local government areas had been renovated and equipped.
“Of these, 82 were supported by the World Bank Impact, seven by the Basic Health Provision Fund, five fully sponsored by the state government, and the remainder by development partners.
”In addition, about 2,000 health workers have been recently recruited, and numerous capacity-building training sessions had been conducted to enhance the skills of the health workforce across the state.
“This concerted effort attests to our underlying commitment to transforming healthcare delivery across Cross River.
“Together, we will continue to collaborate to build a healthier and more prosperous state,” he said
The governor thanked all the delegates for their participation and formally declared the 66th National Council of Health session open, wishing them a productive and rewarding stay in Calabar.
Meanwhile, Ms Kachallom Daju, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has commended several states for their outstanding performance in health sector reforms.
The state’s included Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Delta, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti, and Plateau.
“Your performance proves that when political will meets competence, change becomes innovation.
“We encourage others to follow this sector. The template exists. The results speak for themselves,” she said.
Daju further expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health, particularly the Department of Health Plan Research and Statistics, for their coordination and discipline that ensured a smooth progression from memorandum preparations to the 66th Council session.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Council on Health (NCH) was inaugurated in 1961, following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Health in 1950, to strengthen coordination between the federal and regional governments.
As Nigeria’s highest health policy-making body, the NCH brings together federal and state leaders annually to harmonise reforms, assess sector performance, and set national priorities.
Its first meeting focused on a WHO malaria eradication proposal, and in 1962, a Technical Committee of senior health officials was established to provide expert guidance to the Council.
