As the annual Carnival Calabar inches towards climax, witnessing increasing arrivals in town, the authorities have began to distribute free condoms to participants.
HIV testing and counselling, as well as family planning services, have also been introduced.
The authorities are also screening for tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, hypertension and diabetes, basic medical consultations, health education, gender-based violence counselling and referrals, as well as sexually transmitted diseases.
The Cross River State Government is providing these free services in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners.
On Thursday, the government flagged off the “Wise Up” integrated healthcare services for adolescents and young people at the Calabar Carnival Christmas Village, as part of activities marking the Calabar Festival.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, flagged off the free medical initiatives.
He said the state would take ownership of the initiative, which has been sustained by UNFPA for eight years, disclosing plans to establish a Partners’ Complex at the Essential Drugs premises along Barracks Road, Calabar, to improve coordination among development partners.
Ayuk said part of the facility would be remodelled, pending the governor’s approval, adding that the state intends to expand the Wise Up campaign to cover Neglected Tropical Diseases and other critical health areas.
He noted that development partners had played a key role in supporting the health sector, especially during periods of limited government funding, and urged other partners to join the campaign in subsequent editions.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS, CR-SACA, Dr. Charles Iwara, described the campaign as a cost-effective approach to delivering integrated health services to young people during the festive season, when the state experiences an influx of visitors.
The Head of Office, UNFPA Cross River State, Dr. Andrew Kirima, said the campaign was designed to take advantage of the carnival period to promote safer behaviour and access to essential health services, expressing optimism that the initiative would be sustained beyond donor support.
He disclosed that the Wise Up Carnival Calabar Campaign, which commenced on December 1, 2025 will run throughout the festival period. It is aimed at expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services and promoting responsible decision-making among young people and festival attendees.
Representatives of partner organisations, including the World Health Organization, MSI Nigeria and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, pledged continued support for the campaign, while the Coordinator, Mr. Obase Okanke, called on relevant ministries and agencies to create dedicated budget lines to sustain the initiative.
Free condoms distributed to participants as Carnival Calabar hots up
