A week-long awareness campaign aimed at combating preeclampsia and reducing maternal and neonatal deaths has been launched in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Key Highlights:
- Cross River SOGON launched a week-long awareness campaign to combat preeclampsia and reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
- The campaign, themed “Preeclampsia: The Unforeseen Enemy at the Door,” runs from July 13 to July 18, 2026.
- Dr. Dan Abubakar urged health workers to uphold professional standards and prioritise patient safety despite economic challenges.
- Health experts emphasised that early detection, prompt treatment and quality obstetric care are vital to preventing maternal and neonatal deaths.
- Health Commissioner Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving maternal healthcare through infrastructure upgrades, digital health systems and stronger regulation.
The campaign is organised by the Cross River State chapter of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) and is themed “Preeclampsia: The Unforeseen Enemy at the Door.”
Speaking at the launch of the programme, the Chairman of the Cross River State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery, Dr Dan Abubakar, charged health practitioners not to compromise professional standards despite the prevailing economic challenges.
Dr Abubakar stressed that patient safety must always remain the highest priority. Speaking on “The Challenges of Managing Obstetric Emergencies in an Economy in Decline,” he acknowledged the increasing pressure on healthcare facilities and personnel.
He drew attention to the realities confronting healthcare providers in the current economic climate, noting that maintaining quality healthcare services remains essential despite the challenges.
Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition characterised by high blood pressure and organ dysfunction, remains one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal deaths globally.
Health experts at the event stressed that early detection, prompt treatment and access to quality obstetric care are critical to preventing avoidable deaths and complications.
Declaring the event open, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration to safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns through sustained investments in the healthcare sector.
Dr Ayuk said maternal health remains a central pillar of the state’s People First Agenda, noting that the Ministry of Health is implementing comprehensive reforms aimed at revitalising health facilities, strengthening service delivery and ensuring that quality, life-saving maternal healthcare is accessible to women across the state.
He stressed that improving maternal health requires more than clinical expertise, emphasising the need for strong regulatory systems and modern healthcare infrastructure.
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“The future of healthcare is digital, and Cross River State is taking deliberate steps to position itself at the forefront of that transformation. We are integrating advanced healthcare management systems, revamping our infrastructure, and enforcing regulatory standards to ensure that obstetric emergencies are managed with modern equipment and standardised procedures across all 18 local government areas,” Ayuk said.
Organisers said the week-long programme is expected to deepen public awareness of the dangers of preeclampsia, strengthen collaboration among healthcare stakeholders and promote policy actions aimed at improving maternal and newborn health outcomes across Cross River State.
The campaign, which runs from July 13 to July 18, 2026, has brought together medical experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to advance strategies for improving maternal healthcare and reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths in the state.
