By Abasi Ita
Traditional rulers in Cross River State have pledged strong support for research initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality across the state.
The royal fathers gave the assurance at the first quarterly 2026 meeting of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council held at the Council of Chiefs Chambers in Calabar, during an interactive session with health researchers from the University of Calabar implementing the Pregnancy Risks, Infant Surveillance and Measurement Alliance programme in the state.
Speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Abi and Chairman of the Cross River State Council of Chiefs, Ovai Solomon Osim Edward, stressed the need for collaboration among traditional institutions, government agencies, and the health sector.
“We are fully committed to supporting this research because it directly addresses the disturbing rate of maternal and infant deaths in our communities,” he said. “We cannot continue to lose our women to pregnancy related complications and our infants to preventable causes.”
He further noted that maternal and infant mortality remain critical public health concerns, especially in rural areas.
“Limited access to quality healthcare, harmful cultural practices, and delays in seeking medical attention are major factors driving these deaths,” he added.
In his remarks, a professor of gynaecology and Paramount Ruler of the Efut Kingdom, Itam Hogan Itam, welcomed the selection of Cross River for the project.
“This research will significantly improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce infant mortality when successfully implemented,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of data driven interventions.
“Evidence based research remains the foundation for effective health policies and interventions. Traditional institutions will support this effort by mobilizing our people and promoting safe health practices,” he stated.
He also urged the research team to engage traditional rulers with findings.
“Sharing results with us will strengthen advocacy for better healthcare infrastructure, increased funding, and sustained public awareness,” he added.
Earlier, the team leader of the programme, Professor Martin Meremikwu, described the initiative as a major international effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
“This is a multi country research project designed to generate reliable data that will improve maternal and newborn health outcomes,” he said.
He explained that the pilot phase would be conducted in Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, and Biase Local Government Areas.
“We will track pregnancy outcomes and associated risks among women and newborns to better understand and address the causes of maternal and infant deaths,” he added.
He noted that the programme is being implemented in India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and Nigeria, with Cross River among the participating states.
In his submission, the co chief investigator, Saturday Etuk, highlighted the importance of community engagement.
“We are going into communities and villages, so the support of traditional rulers is critical for access, acceptance, and participation,” he said.
According to the project brief, the study will adopt a prospective open cohort design, enrolling pregnant women at less than 20 weeks gestation through house to house and facility based surveillance.
Participants will undergo scheduled clinical assessments during antenatal care, labour, delivery, and up to one year after childbirth.
Nationwide, the study aims to enroll 10,000 pregnant women, with 2,000 participants drawn from each of the five states over two to three years.
Researchers say the findings will provide reliable estimates of adverse pregnancy outcomes, identify key risk factors, and guide interventions, clinical guidelines, and public health policies aimed at improving maternal and newborn health in Nigeria.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen local research capacity and enhance health systems through collaboration with experts across participating regions.