By George OPARA
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu Thursday approved four new laws he endorsed will strengthen the state’s health system.
Otu described the development as a key milestone in his administration’s reform agenda targeted for repositioning critical sectors and improving the overall quality of life.
At the signing ceremony held at the Governor’s Office in Calabar, Otu said the laws were designed to address the immediate needs of the people.
In his words, “Anything about health is not a joke. These bills will help our people by ensuring we have the right resources and options available”.
He, therefore, hailed the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Elvert Ayambem, for what he described as thorough legislative work and constructive debate that produced the laws.
Otu noted that sustained synergy between the executive and legislative arms has continued to yield people-oriented policies, expressing confidence that the impact of the new laws would soon be felt.
A major highlight is the establishment of the Cross River State College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology, which replaces the former College of Health Technology and upgrades it to a polytechnic with a broader academic mandate.
The governor also assented to the Cross River State Hospital Management Board Law, 2026, creating a central body to oversee secondary health facilities and introducing management committees for general hospitals, alongside regulation of traditional medical practitioners.
To tackle sanitation challenges, Otu signed the Open Defecation (Prohibition) Law, 2026, mandating the provision of toilet facilities in homes, businesses and public places, and establishing a State Task Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for enforcement.
He further approved the Cross River State Senior Secondary Education Board Law, 2026, which creates a dedicated body to manage state-owned senior secondary schools and enhance access to federal education intervention funds.
The governor said the laws form part of a broader strategy to address socio-economic challenges, including rural-urban migration, food security and environmental sustainability.
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