In a proactive step toward strengthening drug safety oversight within paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs, the ECEWS Pharmacy Team in Cross River State paid a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Director of Pharmaceutical Services during the week of March 30, 2026. The visit centered on collaborative plans to establish a state-level Pharmacovigilance (PV) Committee to oversee adherence to drug safety protocols and strengthen regulatory compliance across supported facilities. 

 The proposed committee would bring together pharmacists with expertise in drug handling, a pharmacy focal person for facility-level coordination, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) representative for regulatory oversight. The Director received the team warmly and pledged the state government’s full support. A follow-up meeting was subsequently scheduled to formally inaugurate the committee and begin work on adverse event reporting, staff training, and pharmacy audits. 

 The establishment of the Pharmacovigilance Committee is expected to deliver meaningful improvements to pediatric ART programs by minimizing treatment interruptions and losses to follow-up, ensuring viral suppression through Enhanced Adherence Counselling (EAC), and addressing gaps in post-EAC viral load sampling. The initiative aligns with national pharmacovigilance goals under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) frameworks and holds significant potential to reduce ART-related adverse events and improve long-term client retention across Cross River State.