From 4 to 8 May 2026, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with ECEWS ACE-5, conducted a High-Level Technical Assistance and Monitoring Visit across five supported facilities: General Hospitals Awa, Oron, and Etinan, Ikot Ekpene General Hospital, and Immanuel General Hospital. 

The visit was led by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Patrick Essiet, and other senior government stakeholders. The exercise was designed to assess service delivery performance, infrastructure adequacy, laboratory systems, and the implementation status of ECEWS ACE-5-supported interventions across the visited facilities. 

During the visit, the team conducted comprehensive assessments of healthcare operations, reviewed facility-level challenges, and evaluated the effectiveness of ongoing program activities aimed at improving health outcomes. Direct interactions with facility management teams and healthcare workers provided a platform to discuss operational gaps, resource needs, and strategies for strengthening service delivery. Priority areas reviewed included Laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS), Human Resources for Health (HRH), equipment functionality, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, referral systems, and general facility operations.   

The monitoring exercise awakened the shared commitment of government stakeholders and implementing partners to improve healthcare quality, operational efficiency, and accountability across the state’s health system.