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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Despite recording over 8,000 tuberculosis cases last year, Cross River State Government says every single patient notified was placed on treatment.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonah Offor, disclosed this on behalf of the Health Commissioner, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, at the sidelines of a 2-day stakeholders engagement on the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) engagement.
“Every quarter of last year we notified more than 2,000 cases. Cumulatively, that is about 8,000 cases of tuberculosis. And all the cases that were notified were put on treatment.”
He said the feat was made possible by the expansion of diagnostic services, noting that all 18 Local Government Areas in the state now have TB testing sites.
“As I’m speaking with you, all the local governments have diagnostic sites for tuberculosis. You can easily diagnose, you can easily put patients on treatment, and they recover and recover very well,” he said.
Offor said the Otu administration has also invested heavily in primary healthcare to tackle both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He listed key achievements to include the revitalization of PHCs in every LGA, the rollout of the state health insurance scheme, and ongoing micro planning for the distribution of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria.
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In a major win for maternal health, he added that every LGA now has an ultrasound machine, with health workers trained to operate them. “Every local government area has an ultrasound machine that pregnant women can easily go to, to check the progress of their babies they are carrying in the womb,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the annual review provides the ministry the opportunity to assess performance and chart the way forward. He further disclosed that Governor Bassey Otu is now considering the renovation and revitalization of general hospitals across the state as the next phase of healthcare reform.
In a goodwill message, a representative of the Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office/ Federal Ministry of Health, Omoruyi Iyahen, stressed the need for data-driven planning aligned with the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint 2023–2027.
He emphasized that the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) office priorities for 2027 would focus on strengthening primary healthcare, improving maternal, newborn and child health, enhancing the health workforce, and ensuring equitable access to quality services.
Also, Cross River State Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Stanley Effah, said its expanded enrollment and provider accreditation drive supported the state’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Authority, he added remains committed to ensuring every resident accesses quality, affordable healthcare without financial hardship.
“As we review our progress today, let us remain committed to translating our discussions into practical actions that will improve service delivery and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage,” Effah said
