Calabar: The Cross River Government has initiated the rehabilitation and upgrading of 100 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 18 local government areas of the state. Dr. Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the upgrade of PHCs is part of a broader plan by the state to enhance accessibility to health facilities and achieve universal health coverage. Dr. Ayuk stated that work in some of the PHCs has been completed while others are nearing completion.
The upgrades are not limited to building structures but also include facilities. The project is supported by the World Bank’s IMPACT Project, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the state government. The renovations aim to restore facilities with modern amenities and improve maternal and child healthcare services. This initiative is part of Gov. Otu’s ‘People First’ agenda, targeting the transformation of th
e state’s health infrastructure and ensuring that every political ward has a functional, well-equipped health centre.
In addition to the renovation and upgrading of the 100 PHCs, secondary health facilities are also receiving attention. General hospitals in Ikom, Ogoja, and Calabar are among those currently being upgraded. The administration has also taken steps to recruit health professionals, including doctors and nurses, deploying them to rural areas. Over 2,000 healthcare professionals, including 31 medical doctors and 150 nurses, have been engaged to strengthen health services across the state.
Efforts to improve productivity and efficiency include the approval of a new welfare package for medical workers. On assuming office, the administration addressed the high attrition rates among medical staff due to salary disparities between state and federal services. Now, the state pays medical doctors 100 percent, or more in some cases, aligning their salaries with those at teaching hospitals. This initiative
aims to retain and attract medical professionals within the state.