Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Patey has commended the Cross River State government for what he described as “strong alignment with national health priorities and visible, ongoing improvements in the state's health system”.
The Minister expressed the appreciation during a courtesy visit to the state government on Wednesday when he arrived in Calabar for the high-level session of the 66th National Health Council (NCH).
Pate, a professor, said Cross River has demonstrated remarkable commitment to upgrading both primary and secondary health facilities, strengthening the health workforce and improving service delivery which reflects the new health agenda of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The progress we have seen in Cross River State is impressive. The state is clearly at the forefront in implementing reforms that are in line with national priorities,” Pate said, adding that collaboration between the federal and state governments remains the foundation of a resilient national health system.
The Minister highlighted ongoing national efforts such as improving basic health care provision funding, expanding primary health care networks, training more than 70,000 frontline workers and upgrading tertiary hospitals, and stressed that such progress is only sustainable if states like Cross River actively drive reforms at the subnational level.
He praised the state for its hospitality and readiness to host the council, describing the NCH as “Nigeria’s supreme health policy-making body”, mandated under the National Health Act 2014 to shape the direction of the country’s health governance, financing, quality standards and health security systems.
Pate expressed gratitude to Obong of Calabar for giving the royal blessing to the national health delegation and reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to support states that have demonstrated clear dedication to health service delivery.
He stressed that the resolutions emanating from the NCH in Calabar will shape Nigeria's health trajectory in the coming year, with focus areas including governance, financing, quality improvement, service delivery and emergency preparedness.
Welcoming the Minister to the State Executive Chamber, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, who was represented by his Deputy Peter Odey, said his administration has given the health sector top priority. He said the government has over the past two years invested heavily in rehabilitating and equipping health facilities, providing essential medicines, improving water and sanitation systems and expanding operational support to all 18 local government areas.
Odey highlighted the near completion of the state-of-the-art General Hospital in Ikom, describing it as one of the largest secondary health facilities currently provided in the state. He said the reforms were being driven through a coordinated agenda led by the Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk.
Odey confirmed, “Every request related to health care has received immediate attention from this administration. We are deliberately rebuilding the health system.”
He also invited the Minister and his delegation to this year’s Carnival Calabar celebration, adding that the state was proud to host a national gathering of health leaders and policy makers.
The 66th National Council on Health continues in Calabar, where Ministers, Commissioners, development partners and experts are deliberating on key policies to strengthen Nigeria's health sector.
