06/06/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐
Calabar, Cross River State, became the centre of national public health discourse as epidemiologists, public health specialists, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and healthcare professionals from across Nigeria gathered for the 12th Annual National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria (EPISON) 2026. Held under the theme, โ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐จ๐
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๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐น๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,โ the conference provided a strategic platform for robust engagement on disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness, health security, evidence-based policymaking, and sustainable approaches to safeguarding public health.
Deliberations throughout the conference underscored the urgent need to reinforce surveillance systems, strengthen emergency response mechanisms, and build resilient health structures capable of responding effectively to current and future public health threats.
Speaking during the conference, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, emphasized that resilience remains the cornerstone of an effective public health system. She noted that in an era characterized by evolving disease patterns, climate-related health risks, and recurring outbreaks, health systems must possess the capacity to detect, investigate, and respond swiftly to public health emergencies.
Dr. Otu highlighted Cross River Stateโs sustained commitment to routine disease surveillance, prompt outbreak investigations, and coordinated emergency response efforts, which continue to strengthen the state's preparedness architecture. She further called for deeper collaboration among government institutions, development partners, professional bodies, and healthcare stakeholders to build a more responsive, adaptable, and resilient health system capable of protecting communities across all levels.
In his welcome address, the National President of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria, Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, described the conference as a timely intervention in the collective effort to address the increasing burden of emerging and re-emerging diseases. He expressed delight at hosting the societyโs 12th Annual General Meeting in the historic city of Calabar and reiterated the importance of strengthening epidemiological resilience through early detection and rapid response mechanisms.
According to Dr. Ashikeni, recurring disease outbreaks within Nigeria and across the globe underscore the necessity for robust surveillance systems that can promptly identify potential threats before they escalate into widespread public health emergencies. He stressed that effective epidemiological resilience depends on consistent surveillance mechanisms, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, continuous professional development for healthcare workers, and the implementation of evidence-informed policies that support disease prevention and control.
The EPISON President also underscored the indispensable role of research institutions in generating scientific evidence and data required to inform public health interventions and guide policy decisions. He described the conference theme as highly relevant to the realities confronting health systems today and commended the Government of Cross River State for its unwavering support and commitment, which contributed significantly to the successful hosting of the conference.
Representing the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, reaffirmed the administrationโs commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery across the state. He noted that healthcare remains a central pillar of Governor Otuโs People First Agenda, reflected in sustained investments in primary healthcare services, disease surveillance systems, health insurance coverage, immunization programmes, healthcare infrastructure, and workforce development.
Dr. Ayuk highlighted the remarkable strides made by the state in expanding access to healthcare services, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities. He disclosed that Cross River remains one of the few states successfully delivering vaccines and essential medicines to remote populations, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare and leaving no community behind.
The Commissioner further described the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme as a transformative initiative that is expanding healthcare access while reducing out-of-pocket expenditure for residents. According to him, the scheme continues to serve as a critical pathway toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving health outcomes across the state.
Adding her voice to the discourse, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Rebecca Olatunde Yewande, urged epidemiologists, researchers, and public health practitioners to sustain advocacy efforts around disease surveillance and public health preparedness. She stressed that strengthening surveillance systems remains fundamental to addressing public health threats and mitigating the impact of emerging and re-emerging diseases on communities.
The conference featured technical sessions, scientific presentations, policy dialogues, and knowledge-sharing engagements that explored innovative approaches to disease surveillance, outbreak response, health security, digital health solutions, and epidemiological research.
Participants collectively emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, increased investments in surveillance infrastructure, workforce capacity strengthening, and improved data utilization to enhance public health decision-making.
As the conference drew to a close, participants expressed optimism that the deliberations and recommendations emerging from the gathering would contribute significantly to strengthening Nigeriaโs epidemiological resilience and preparedness.
The event further reinforced Cross River Stateโs growing reputation as a strategic partner in advancing public health excellence and promoting sustainable health systems capable of meeting the evolving needs of the population.
๐ช๐น๐บ๐ท๐ฏ๐ช๐ซ๐จ ๐ด๐๐
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