Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has convened a multisectoral meeting of key stakeholders to strengthen preparedness and response to public health emergencies through the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).
The meeting, held in Calabar, brought together representatives from the health, environment, information, emergency services, and development partner sectors to review preparedness strategies, clarify roles and enhance coordination in the event of disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor, Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, said the gathering underscored the state’s readiness to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, noting that proactive coordination remained critical to safeguarding public health.
“It is the year 2026, and I want to appreciate all of you for coming out early and in such numbers. This shows your readiness to combat whatever outbreak may occur across the state,” Ekpo said.
He added that the state government had prioritised the health sector in the 2026 budget, stressing that adequate funding had been provided to ensure effective delivery of healthcare services and emergency response.
“Reasonable allocation has been made to the sector to enable us to deliver on our responsibilities and ensure that our people live in good health,” he said, describing the quarterly PHEOC meeting as a requirement of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and a key platform for assessing preparedness for medical emergencies.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Jonah Ofor, who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, emphasised the importance of collaboration across sectors in managing public health emergencies.
According to him, “The effectiveness of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre depends largely on strong multisectoral collaboration. Public health emergencies are complex and often extend beyond the mandate of the health sector alone.”
Ofor explained that the PHEOC framework brings together sectors such as health, environment, information, security, transportation, emergency services, local government and development partners to ensure coordinated planning, rapid information sharing and timely decision-making.
“Through this integrated approach, we strengthen preparedness, improve response efficiency, reduce duplication of efforts and ensure optimal use of resources,” he said, urging stakeholders to sustain active participation and effective communication within the PHEOC structure.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, in her presentation, spoke on disease surveillance and the need for constant alertness across all response units.
“Early detection is key. Surveillance officers and all response units must remain vigilant, promptly report unusual health events and ensure timely data sharing,” she said.
Ekpenyong also outlined the roles of various units during emergencies, stressing that “every pillar has a responsibility, from surveillance and laboratory services to risk communication and logistics, and all must function efficiently to prevent outbreaks from escalating.”
She urged stakeholders to adhere strictly to surveillance protocols, noting that preparedness and rapid response would help protect lives and maintain public confidence during emergencies.
The meeting ended with a call for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen Cross River State’s public health emergency response system and ensure readiness to tackle future disease outbreaks.
