Stakeholders Gather in Calabar for One Day Workshop on Translating Evidence, Community Voices into Political Commitment for Onchocerciasis Elimination and Accountable Primary Healthcare

Iloke Egbe 

In an effort to push back the frontiers of ignorance, myth on the negative impact of some Neglected Tropical Disease that is endemic in the State, Stakeholders gathered in Calabar to brainstorm on the best approach and protocol to address challenges hindering the speedy elimination of some neglected Tropical diseases in the State.

The one day Workshop held at Dannic Hotel Ekorinim Calabar and sponsored by Nigeria Health Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health outcomes in Nigeria in partnership with the Cross River State Government brought relevant stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the State Ministry of Health, CRS Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Neglected Tropical Disease Unit, the Carter Center, Development Partners and the traditional institution. 

Also in attendance were local government and community health officers, Civil Society Organizations, religious leaders, etc. and featured goodwill messages from partners,  plenary and panel discussions and the release of 21 points resolutions through a Communique on the next steps.

The programme which is at the pilot stage currently operates in Akamkpa, Etung and Boki Local Government Areas of the State due to the endemic nature of their locations and features of the areas characterized by Forest, high current running waters and their borderline with the Republic of Cameron which makes the Local Government Areas very fertile for the breeding and spreading of the Onchocerciasis commonly known as River blindness and lymphatic disease.

In her remarks, the Cross River State Coordinator Nigeria Health Watch, Ms Hannah Achu asserted that the programme is also in collaboration with Global Institute for Disease Elimination, and Nigeria Health Watch is an advocacy and communication organization while the project is currently running advocacy on the elimination of Onchocerciasis in the State. Adding that the State is of serious concern on the Onchocerciasis map due to many borders which stretch to Cameron where there is a report of recrudescence disease.

She expressed satisfaction with the quality of deliberations and participants in attendance, pointing out that the Communique reached can be adopted for further action.

While the clan head of Etung urban- Ekiem, His Royal Highness, Elder. Malloy Erem expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the workshop, the sincerity and seriousness witness in activities carried out by Health Watch organization, adding that the workshop has opened a new chapter of community participation in the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases.  Also, Dr Ekpo Ofem a public health epidemiology admitted that the engagement was very important as it seeks collaboration with experts to identify gaps in the field and build Synergies to overcome the challenges. 

While the State coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases Mr. Godwin Omeji admitted that the event added more value as it has to do with sensitization and it will enhance improved community participation and reduce challenges where health workers bring medicine to a community and some community leaders expect the health workers to attach some incentives in the name of tradition. He acknowledged the good governance the State is enjoying courtesy of the Governor, and appealed for more funding,  "let the State Government support interventions in this sector through funding" he added.

Some of the sub-topics presented include evidence base-findings from GLIDE and KAPB baseline assessment, key findings on NTD knowledge. Listening to communities - insights from integrated community engagement and closing the coverage gap through PHC and community health systems. Other topics presented were Community perspective - Enablers and barriers to Onchocerciasis Elimination and quality PHC services and action planning and co-creation, from evidence to commitments.

Nigeria at 66th Reassuring Unity and Growth

66 years is an indication of stability, growth and development and we are blessed to have Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu as Governor that has made the State an embodiment of good governance.

As Nigerians celebrate 66th years of steady progress and development as a sovereign, independent and democratic nation, being able to overcome challenges and crises of varied degree with visible achievements.

The chairman Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission Hon. Ntufam Victor Okon on behalf of the commission has congratulated the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and Vice President, Senator Kashim Ibrahim Shetima CFR. 

The State Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and his Deputy, His Excellency RT. Hon. Peter Odey PhD, The Speaker Cross River State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Elvert Ayambem. The State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme and Honourable members of the House of Assembly. 

Members of the State Executive Council and all Cross Riverians. 

The task of nation building is a collective responsibility. Let's continue in the unity we are known for.

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Long live Cross River State!!

Long live the State House of Assembly Service Commission.

Ntufam. Hon. Victor Okon 

Chairman, 

Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission

CSDA, Agricultural and Loan Board Explore Partnership to Boost Community Development in Cross River

The Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) and the Cross River State Agricultural and Loan Board (ALB) are exploring areas of strategic collaboration aimed at deepening community development and expanding economic opportunities for beneficiaries across the State.

The move followed a courtesy visit by the former Board Chairman of the CSDA and current Chairman of the Cross River State Agricultural and Loan Board, Sir Toni Ikpeme, to the Agency.

The visit, which took place at the CSDA Board Room, brought together the Chairman of the CSDA Board, High Chief Cyril Anthony Asuquo, and members of the Management Team, including the General Manager, Mr. Collins Edet; Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Dr. Josephine Ayuk; Finance Manager, Mr. Agbor Akwaji; and Operations Manager, Dr. Esther Awa. During the engagement, The team presented the Agency’s mandate and development approach, with particular emphasis on its Community-Driven Development (CDD) model. 

That the CDD approach places communities at the centre of the development process by enabling residents to identify and prioritise their most pressing needs. The CSDA then facilitates interventions in critical areas such as education, healthcare, water and sanitation, while promoting community ownership, participation and sustainability.

Mr. Ikpeme reflected on his tenure as Chairman of the CSDA Board and commended the Agency’s workforce for its professionalism, commitment and passion for delivering development interventions that positively impact communities across the State, stressing the importance of strengthening the link between agricultural interventions and existing community infrastructure. 

He noted that beneficiaries of agricultural programmes could maximise the use of CSDA-facilitated facilities within their communities to support their activities.

According to him, stronger coordination between agricultural programmes and community infrastructure would enhance the sustainability and overall impact of development interventions at the grassroots.

Mr. Toni also identified Calabar Bayside and Eniong Abatim communities as areas where further development needs could be assessed, urging the CSDA to consider engaging the communities to identify their priority needs and determine appropriate interventions.

He commended the agricultural transformation initiatives of the Cross River State Government under the leadership of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, noting their potential contribution to food security and economic development in the State.

Responding, the CSDA Board Chairman, High Chief Cyril Anthony Asuquo, welcomed Sir Toni Ikpeme and expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two agencies.

Mr Asuquo acknowledged the positive reports concerning Sir Toni’s tenure as Chairman of the CSDA Board and expressed optimism that his current position at the Agricultural and Loan Board would provide an opportunity for both institutions to develop stronger areas of collaboration.

He noted that greater synergy between the agencies could create opportunities for communities and beneficiaries to benefit from their respective programmes and mandates, particularly through access to agricultural grants, loans and credit financing available through the Agricultural and Loan Board.

The meeting further highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in advancing inclusive development, strengthening community resilience and expanding access to basic social infrastructure and economic opportunities across Cross River State.

Both institutions expressed their readiness to explore practical areas of partnership and develop stronger institutional synergy that would translate into tangible benefits for communities, farmers and other beneficiaries across the State.

The collaboration, if effectively implemented, is expected to strengthen the connection between community infrastructure and agricultural development, while supporting the State’s broader efforts towards grassroots development, food security and improved livelihoods.

Independence: Otu Urges Nigerians to Embrace Self-Reliance, Dignity

Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has called on Nigerians to give deeper meaning to the nation’s 66 years of independence by transforming political freedom into self-reliance, human dignity and shared prosperity, urging citizens to look beyond the rituals of October 1 and embrace the patriotism, integrity, tolerance and collective responsibility required to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Otu who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made the call in his Independence Day goodwill message to Cross Riverians at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, in which he described the anniversary as an opportunity for “solemn national introspection” and a renewed commitment to the ideals for which Nigeria’s founding nationalists sacrificed. He said independence should not be viewed merely as freedom from external rule, but as “the capacity of a people to determine their destiny, provide for their needs, protect their dignity and build institutions worthy of their aspirations.”

The Governor said the sacrifices of Nigeria’s nationalist generation were “deliberate, selfless and animated by an abiding faith in the possibility of a sovereign Nigeria”, stressing that their legacy imposed a responsibility on present and future generations to preserve the values for which they struggled. He specifically cited the national ethics enshrined in Chapter II, Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution, including patriotism, integrity, self-reliance and religious tolerance, as indispensable foundations for a stable and prosperous society.

Otu said Independence Day should transcend ceremonial pageantry and official rituals, insisting that it should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey and the responsibilities of citizenship. “Independence Day must mean more to us than the ceremonial pageantry and official rituals that accompany it,” he said, describing the anniversary as “a solemn moment of national introspection” and an occasion to consider “the Nigeria we desire to bequeath to generations yet unborn.”

According to him, Nigeria’s progress in infrastructure, education, healthcare, maritime development and other critical sectors demonstrates that nation-building remains a continuing enterprise requiring “patience, sacrifice, unity of purpose and the determination to transform our enormous potential into tangible prosperity.” He said Cross River, too, had remained “in motion”, progressively evolving economically, socially and politically while giving practical expression to the ideals of national independence.

The Governor highlighted Cross River’s tradition of religious harmony, social justice and inclusive governance, saying his administration had consciously translated the national ethics of patriotism, integrity, tolerance and self-reliance into the State’s ethos.

He pointed to the longstanding proximity and peaceful coexistence of the Calabar Central Mosque and the Apostolic Church along Mary Slessor Street, Bogobiri, as a vivid illustration that “faith need not be a source of division”, but could coexist with “mutual respect, fellowship and understanding.”

Otu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equity, human rights and the rule of law, declaring that “no one, regardless of social or economic standing, is above the law.” He added that no citizen, “irrespective of how modest his or her circumstances may be”, should be subjected to oppression, intimidation or injustice, stressing that “justice must remain the shield of both the weak and the strong.” He said his administration had opened the doors of public service to “well-meaning Cross Riverians, irrespective of political affiliation”, in keeping with its commitment to participatory and inclusive governance.

On economic empowerment, the Governor said his administration was investing in the capacity of young people through apprenticeship, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, while providing local entrepreneurs with training, institutional support and start-up assistance. He identified agriculture as a major pillar of the State’s self-reliance agenda, noting that government was supporting smallholder and large-scale farmers with loans and grants, improving rural feeder roads and promoting mechanisation. “Our ambition, however, goes beyond food sufficiency. We seek absolute food security,” he declared, adding that the revitalisation of agro-based cottage industries would help transform agricultural produce into semi-finished and finished products. “This is the meaning of Food Independence,” he said.

The Governor, however, stressed that the task of building a prosperous Cross River could not be accomplished by government alone, urging citizens to embrace unity, cooperation and collective responsibility. Comparing governance to an orchestra, Otu said: “As Governor, I am the conductor, responsible for setting the tempo and directing the symphony. But no conductor, however committed, can produce beautiful music if the instrumentalists refuse to play in harmony.” He called on Cross Riverians to reject “distrust, ethnic prejudice, needless division and every tendency that diminishes our collective strength”, insisting that “Cross River belongs to all of us” and that its future remains “a shared inheritance and a shared responsibility.” He urged citizens to honour the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes by becoming “worthy custodians of the nation they envisioned”, while wishing Nigerians and Cross Riverians a peaceful, meaningful and rewarding Independence celebration.