31/10/2025
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก: ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐
On the 30th October, 2025 a recent strategic meeting between the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) officials and Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) officials was held to mark a pivotal step toward achieving transformative maternal and child health goals.
Dr. Andrew Kirima, the Head of the UNFPA Sub-office, extended a warm welcome to the DG CRSPHCDA, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, and her team, emphasizing the collaborative spirit needed to advance maternal and child health in Cross River State. More than a simple discussion, it was a dynamic session focused on translating commitments into clear, coordinated action all centered on achieving UNFPA's 2030 vision of zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet family planning needs, and the elimination of gender-based violence.
The discussion centered on making sure all efforts were realistic and aligned with current funding. Acknowledging that funds can change, both parties agreed to implement flexible budgeting and focus on high-impact priorities that are scalable across LGAs. DG CRSPHCDA, Dr. Otu, also confirmed the existence of a system managed by sector-specific officers for different operational areas.
The DG CRSPHCDA, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, clarified the state's approach, highlighting the need for program delivery through sector-specific officers of the various systematic areas, rather than NGOs, for organized program delivery. This structure, she explained, ensures that all activities directly contribute to agreed-upon health indicators and align effectively with available resources, aiming for organized and impactful programming. A structure UNFPA Program Analyst, Yewande Odusanya noted would be strengthened by introducing specific desk officers for budgeting clarity.
Critically, the need to secure state government counterpart funding was highlighted as essential to shift focus from solely secondary facilities to expanding services at the primary and community healthcare levels.
Transforming Community Care and Policy๏ฟฝA major area of focus was elevating the quality and reach of community-level health services:
* Regulating Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs): The group agreed to urgently revisit and enforce the 2016 TBA policy. This is key to regulating TBAs through registration and monitoring, ultimately curbing unsafe practices. Mrs. Elizabeth Unawu underscored the potential of past TBA escort services a model where TBAs received stipends for escorting pregnant women to facilities as a sustainable way to boost skilled birth attendance.
* Policy Standardization: The Minimal Service Package (MSP) document, which standardizes essential primary healthcare services, is scheduled for validation and rollout in early 2025. This policy will provide a critical framework for costing and service delivery across facilities.
* Emergency Response: Recognizing the state's lack of sufficient ambulances, the teams decided to pursue a more immediate solution: formalizing emergency referral systems by engaging existing transport unions (motorcycles and buses) to reduce critical delays in patient transport.
Data-Driven Action and Emerging Issues:๏ฟฝTo ensure resources go where they are needed most, UNFPA proposed using the 2020 NDHS data which shows a 43% TBA delivery rate to identify priority LGAs for focused interventions. Furthermore, the team addressed two urgent coordination and public health concerns:
* Supply Chain & Coordination: Gaps in family planning coordination and data sharing were identified as obstacles to integrated care. To address commodity shortages, a new initiative for state-led procurement of reproductive health commodities was discussed.
* FGM Prevalence: An alarming rise in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) prevalence (from 8% to 10%) was noted. The partners agreed to conduct an urgent formal assessment and survey to map hotspots and inform a targeted response to eliminate the practice.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continuous engagement and joint accountability. Dr. Andrew Kirima, UNFPA Head of Office, reaffirmed the agencyโs support for technical collaboration and sustainable financing mechanisms.
Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, Director General of CRSPHCDA, emphasized the stateโs readiness to strengthen community systems and align all interventions with existing government frameworks.
Other key stakeholders present including Yewande Odusanya, Dr. Shola, and Mrs. Elizabeth Unawu committed to advancing the outlined priorities through coordinated technical working groups and continuous monitoring.
Together, these collective efforts promise a more coordinated, data-informed, and sustainable approach to healthcare in Cross River State.
