By Kingsley Agim
In just under two years, Cross River State has emerged as a national leader in primary healthcare delivery, thanks to bold and far-reaching reforms championed by Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
At the heart of this transformation: the revitalization of 94 primary healthcare facilities, a digital data overhaul in all 196 wards, the recruitment of hundreds of new health workers, and a historic 95% immunization coverage; the highest in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, shared the remarkable progress during a recent media briefing in Calabar.
“When we came in, many of our health centres were in ruins. It was heartbreaking,” Dr. Otu said. “But today, under Governor Otu’s leadership, we are not only rebuilding structures—we are restoring trust in public healthcare.”
According to Dr. Otu, the state’s health system was on the verge of collapse prior to 2023. Dozens of PHC facilities were either closed or operating without basic medical equipment, electricity, water, or staff.
“Some facilities were so bad they were unfit for human use,” she said. “Women were delivering on bare floors, and communities had turned to traditional birth attendants out of desperation.”
But Governor Otu’s “People-First” policy flipped the script. Through counterpart funding and smart partnerships, the administration has rebuilt 94 PHCs across 18 LGAs, complete with: solar-powered electricity; clean water via solar boreholes; medical equipment for maternal and child care; and delivery essentials through the now-standard Mama Kits.
Each of these PHCs serves as a model facility in its ward.
The administration has also moved aggressively to tackle a long-standing manpower deficit. A total of 196 skilled birth attendants—one for each ward—have been deployed, alongside over 380 other health workers, including nurses, lab technicians, and community health extension workers.
Additionally, the state has trained over 200 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in safe delivery practices and referral procedures.
“We are building a strong human resource base,” said Dr. Otu. “Healthcare is not just about buildings—it’s about skilled hands and compassionate hearts.”
Perhaps one of the most innovative aspects of the reform is the digitalization of health data and facility management across all PHC centres. Each ward-based centre now has a computer system installed to ensure accurate data collection, patient tracking, and program evaluation.
A partnership with The Elephant Project, a private tech-health firm, is currently being scaled to further enhance the digital infrastructure.
“We’re creating smart primary health centres,” Dr. Otu explained. “No more guessing games—we are now data-driven.”
The results speak for themselves. According to the 2023/2024 National Demographic Health Survey, Cross River now ranks first in routine immunization across the country—recording 95% coverage, compared to Lagos State’s 86%.
This success is credited to intensified grassroots campaigns, radio and TV sensitization, mobile outreach teams, and a zero-tolerance approach to “zero-dose” communities—areas where children have never received any vaccines.
“We didn’t wait for the people to come to us—we went to the people,” Dr. Otu stated. “No child in Cross River should grow up vulnerable to preventable diseases.”
To sustain progress, the state has adopted a community-first approach to facility ownership. Before any renovation begins, town hall-style meetings are held to ensure community buy-in.
“We want the people to protect what we’re building,” said Dr. Otu. “This isn’t just government property—it’s their lifeline.”
Still, the journey has had its setbacks. In Bakassi and other remote communities, vandalism and theft have been reported.
“We are not discouraged. We’ll go back, re-engage, and remind our people what is at stake,” she affirmed.
With ₦5 billion budgeted in 2025 to complete renovations across all 196 wards and strengthen solar infrastructure, Governor Otu’s administration is determined to build a healthcare system that reaches everyone—rural or urban, rich or poor.
“We’re not building fancy hospitals for photos—this is about dignity, safety, and life,” Dr. Otu concluded.
“The governor has proven that healthcare is not a favour to the people. It is their right.”
Cross River’s Primary Healthcare Revitalization Program is a flagship pillar of Governor Otu’s broader human development blueprint, anchored on his “People-First” philosophy and supported through local, national, and international partnerships.
