By Nakanda Iyadim
The Cross River State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other partners has flagged off “Wise Up” integrated healthcare services for adolescents and young people at the Calabar Christmas Village as part of activities marking the 32-day Calabar Festival.
The initiative tagged “Wise Up Carnival Calabar Campaign,” commenced on December 1, 2025, and will run throughout the festival period. With the theme “Your Choice Leaves Traces,” the campaign aims to promote responsible decision-making and expand access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services for young people and carnival attendees.
The campaign provides free, integrated health services, including HIV testing and counselling, family planning, screening for common conditions such as tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, hypertension and diabetes, basic medical consultations, as well as health education, gender-based violence (GBV) counselling and referrals, and condom distribution with STI information.
Flagging off the campaign, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, assured partners of the State Government’s commitment to taking full ownership of the “Wise Up” initiative and commended UNFPA for sustaining the campaign for the past eight years.
Dr. Ayuk announced plans by the State Government to establish a Partners’ Complex at the Essential Drugs premises along Barracks Road, Calabar, to enhance coordination and provide a more conducive environment for development partners delivering humanitarian and health services.
“We are planning to remodel the current AHF building and name it after our late friend, Dr. Ifeanyi Udenkwo, who was deeply committed to this work. Part of the Essential Drugs building will also be converted into a Partners’ Complex to strengthen collaboration,” he said.
He added that his Ministry is awaiting the Governor’s approval for the project’s actualization, positing that by the first quarter of 2026 the State is also planning to host all partners to a dinner to showcase their work and foster greater collaboration and camaraderie.
While lauding the substantial support from partners since his assumption of office two years ago, He stressed the need to create an enabling environment for them to remain active, adding,
“Today, Cross River is what it is because of the contributions of partners. In fact, in the first six months of my assumption of office, the Governor, who was yet to approve any funding for the health sector, was amazed at the notable achievements we recorded in such a short period—those were the goodwill we enjoyed from our partners in the State.”
The Commissioner urged other partners who are yet to be part of the campaign to emulate UNFPA by actively participating in the campaign next year.
Dr AyuK assured them that the Government would not only take ownership of the campaign initiative but also ensure its expansion to accommodate services for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other critical areas.
In his welcome remarks, the Director-General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA) and Chief Host of the event, Dr. Charles Iwara, described the Wise Up Carnival Campaign as a strategic platform for addressing youth health challenges, especially during the festive season.
“Globally, integrated service delivery is the focus because it is cost-effective and brings services to one place. With dwindling funding, it is important for government to take ownership, particularly during this yuletide period when young people and visitors flood the State,” he said.
He acknowledged the dwindling funding and stated, “We are trying as much as possible to own it as Government… especially during this yuletide where we have so many visitors, particularly the young ones, to the State.”
He informed attendees that, with partners’ support, they had secured a lot of commodities and consumables to host the programme this year’s campaign successfully.
“Let me use this medium to appreciate the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for always supporting us in the HIV response activities,” Dr. Iwara added, assuring partners of the State Government’s commitment to full ownership due to the campaign’s impact.
In his remarks, the Head of Office, UNFPA Cross River State, Dr. Andrew Kirima, explained that the Wise Up Carnival Campaign was conceptualized to leverage the annual influx of young people into the State during the carnival period.
“While young people are enjoying the festivities, it is also an opportunity to promote safer behaviours, condom use, and access to essential health services,” he said.
Dr. Kirima commended the State Government for taking leadership of the campaign, expressing confidence that it would be sustained beyond donor funding.
He added that the 2025 Carnival, marking its 20th anniversary, presents an even greater opportunity for engagement, noting that this year’s Wise Up campaign would be the biggest yet.
In separate goodwill messages, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr. Gloria Archibong, applauded the State Government for creating an enabling environment for partners, noting that “a healthy State is a wealthy State,” and pledged WHO’s continued support.
The MSI Nigeria Representative, Mr. Nwakalor Israel, assured of support for family planning services, including the provision of commodities, while the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Representative, Mrs. Aruk Ene, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the 2025 Wise Up Campaign.
Also speaking, Mr. Coco-Bassey Esu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing and a founding member of the campaign, described the initiative as an annual opportunity for selfless service to young people, commending UNFPA for its sustained leadership and called for support from other partners operating in the State.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Wise Up Campaign ,Mr. Obase Okanke, conducted a guided tour of the facility for the Commissioner and partners, thanked the State Government and implementing partners for the initiative and called on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with HIV response mandates to create dedicated budget lines to sustain and institutionalize the Wise Up initiative.
