By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has approved the immediate renovation of the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) on Moore Road, Calabar, as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s preparedness and response to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, who announced the approval on Friday, said the directive underscored the Otu administration’s commitment to strengthening health security and emergency preparedness infrastructure under its People First agenda.
According to the commissioner, the approval followed an assessment of the facility, which revealed that it had deteriorated despite serving as the state’s central hub for coordinating responses to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
He said Governor Otu consequently directed that renovation work should commence without delay to restore the facility and transform it into a safe, functional and modern emergency operations centre capable of effectively coordinating emergency responses across the state.
Dr. Ayuk described the intervention as timely and strategic, noting that the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre plays a critical role in disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness, emergency coordination and rapid response during public health crises.
He explained that the renovation would address the facility’s structural deficiencies and provide a more conducive environment for emergency operations, data management, incident coordination and collaboration among health professionals and development partners.
The commissioner commended Governor Otu for his continued investment in the health sector, noting that the administration had prioritised healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, medical equipment and emergency response systems to improve service delivery.
He added that the rehabilitation of the centre further demonstrated the governor’s determination to build a resilient healthcare system capable of preventing, detecting and responding effectively to emerging public health threats while safeguarding the health and well-being of Cross River residents.