By Abasi Ita, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has reiterated its commitment to drastically reduce maternal and child mortality through a strengthened partnership with the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme.
This renewed commitment to data-driven health interventions was reaffirmed during a recent CHAMPS-hosted town hall meeting in Calabar, which brought together key health stakeholders, community leaders, and government officials.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Vivian Otu, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), emphasized the state government’s reliance on scientific data to inform public health policy.
“CHAMPS has provided us with crucial data that helps us understand why our women and children are dying,” Dr. Otu said.
“This insight is helping us to design smarter and more effective health responses. We remain fully committed to expanding this partnership, especially to reach our most underserved communities.”
Dr. Otu added that Cross River stands out as one of the few Nigerian states actively implementing the CHAMPS model, underscoring the government’s commitment to evidence-based healthcare delivery.
Also speaking, Professor Martins Meremikwu, Chief Investigator for CHAMPS in Cross River, highlighted the programme’s achievements through its collaboration with the University of Calabar and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
According to him, the initiative has recorded measurable progress in reducing preventable child deaths by strengthening community engagement, applying data-driven strategies, and improving local health systems.
“A key element of CHAMPS’ success is the establishment of Community Advisory Boards in four local government areas—Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi,” Prof. Meremikwu stated.
“These boards act as our eyes and ears in the community. They play a crucial role in identifying, reporting, and facilitating investigations into child mortality cases.”
He explained that CHAMPS is currently operational across seven LGAs in the Southern Senatorial District, applying global best practices in investigating under-five deaths, stillbirths, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
“We’re not just collecting statistics—we are uncovering the causes behind every child’s death. That critical understanding enables us to make targeted policy recommendations to both government and health sector actors,” he said.
Prof. Meremikwu also revealed that to strengthen maternal healthcare, CHAMPS recently donated seven ultrasound machines to selected health centres across the state to improve prenatal care.
“Limited access to diagnostic tools has contributed significantly to maternal and infant deaths,” he noted.
“These machines are already playing a transformative role in detecting high-risk pregnancies early and reducing complications.”
On his part, Professor Iwara Arikpo, CHAMPS Project Manager, outlined the initiative’s primary objectives: reducing child mortality, improving pregnancy outcomes, building local capacity, and addressing healthcare system deficiencies through a “data-to-action” framework.
“CHAMPS is not just about gathering statistics. We convert data into practical solutions—whether it’s providing diagnostics, training health workers, or fixing referral bottlenecks,” Prof. Arikpo explained.
“The next phase will involve scaling our efforts and embedding sustainability at all levels of implementation.”
He further noted that CHAMPS contributes data to a global surveillance network, helping Nigeria stay aligned with international standards in maternal and child health.
Prof. Arikpo praised the state government for its unwavering support and stressed the critical role community leaders play in the programme’s effectiveness.
“Our collaboration with traditional rulers and local communities is foundational,” he stated.
“Surveillance can only be effective when there is trust and ownership at the grassroots. We are building systems that can thrive beyond donor support by embedding them into community structures.”
The town hall also provided a platform for discussions on boosting public awareness, strengthening referral systems, securing sustainable funding, and integrating CHAMPS data into health governance and decision-making processes.
In his goodwill message, Mayor of Calabar, Apostle James Anam, represented by Council Secretary, Comrade Iso Edim, pledged the Council’s full support for CHAMPS and its vision.
He lauded the programme’s impact on the healthcare ecosystem and called for broader government investment, enhanced community involvement, and sustained use of actionable data to position Cross River as a national leader in the fight against maternal and child deaths.