The Cross River State government says it is establishing health facilities across the 18 local government areas to serve the elderly, children under five and pregnant women.

Dr Henry Ayuk, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Ayuk said four of the designated facilities were already operational, while efforts were ongoing to establish others across the state.

“The designated health facilities target people who cannot afford services and aim to make healthcare accessible to vulnerable groups.

“Services in these facilities will be free for the elderly above 70 years, children under five and pregnant women,” the commissioner said.

He said the initiative aimed to achieve universal health coverage and deliver the dividends of democracy under Gov. Bassey Otu’s ‘People First’ agenda.