In its avowed commitment to improve access to quality medicines and reduce preventable maternal deaths, the Cross River State Government has commenced the implementation of a strengthened Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) and piloted its Drug Management Agency (DMA) initiative with the support of international health partners, including the IDA Foundation.
Receiving the first consignment of life-saving medicines from IDA Foundation, on Tuesday at the state’s drugstore in Calabar, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, described the development as a major leap forward in the government’s plan to ensure affordable, quality-assured drugs are accessible to all, especially the vulnerable.
“This intervention is timely and revolutionary. Through the Drug Revolving Fund, we are now able to procure high-quality medications from international suppliers at drastically reduced rates—some costing less than ₦2,000 per dose compared to the ₦15,000 market price,” Dr. Ayuk stated.
The pilot initiative, supported by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, is also paving the way for the establishment of a full-fledged Drug Management Agency. According to the Commissioner, the DMA bill which is before the House of Assembly, when signed into law, will centralize and regulate drug procurement across public and private health facilities in the state to eliminate exploitation and ensure standardization in pricing and quality.
“We are not just launching a supply chain reform,” Dr. Ayuk said. “We are strengthening a system that puts the lives of our people first. This is particularly significant for pregnant women who often suffer from postpartum hemorrhage due to the unavailability or unaffordability of essential drugs. With this model, more lives will be saved.”
The Commissioner further stated that with an initial government investment of ₦15 million for the current drug stock, the funds recovered through patient access will be reinvested to sustain availability, making the revolving fund truly regenerative.
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Barr. Lucy Enakirerhi, commended the state’s proactive health policy, noting that the intervention would drastically curb postpartum hemorrhage — the leading cause of maternal mortality after after delivery.
According to the World Health Organization, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 22% to 25% of maternal deaths nationwide. “No woman should die while giving life,” said the IDA Country Representative, Pharm. Nwaebiem Nwadinobi. “That is our shared mission.”
According to Pharm. Nwadinobi, the quality-assured drugs delivered include 5,600 ampoules of Carbetocin injection, 1,900 ampoules of Tranexamic acid injection, and 1,634 calibrated drapes for measuring postpartum bleeding. He praised Governor Otu’s leadership and the commitment of the health ministry, emphasizing IDA Foundation’s continued support to ensure effective rollout and monitoring of the initiative.
“What we are starting here is not just a supply drop, it is a movement,” he said. “We are working with a team (in Cross River) that understands the urgency and the impact. From our end, we’ll keep providing support, training, and follow-up to ensure the success of this model in the State.”
The Director of Pharmacy Services, Sunday Johnson, noted that the warehouse and logistics infrastructure for the project is already in place, further assuring stakeholders of transparency and efficiency.
