Cross River HDSS

Nigeria,

Population: 44 000

website

CROSS RIVER HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (CRHDSS)
UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CALABAR

The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) at the University of Calabar serves as a vital research platform enhancing the Nigerian National Health Management Information System (NHMIS), offering a streamlined approach to gathering and reporting crucial community-level data on health and sociodemographic trends. Through routine household visits, the HDSS ensures longitudinal tracking of key health and demographic indicators.
Initiated as a pilot project in September 2010 with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, the Cross River HDSS began in the rural Idundu communities of Akpabuyo Local Government Area. The baseline census was conducted in November 2012, encompassing both urban and rural cohorts in Calabar Municipality and Akpabuyo, situated approximately 13 km apart. The population comprises predominantly farmers, fishermen, civil servants, traders, and artisans, with Efik, Ibibio, and English as the primary languages spoken.

Currently, the site monitors a total population of over 44,000 (expansion ongoing to include 80,000) individuals, covering both the urban cohort (Calabar Municipal) and the rural cohort (Akpabuyo LGA). The overall planned expansion, in the long run, targets a definitive size of 180,000 individuals spread across the three senatorial zones of Cross River State. The ultimate goal is to implement highly efficient mobile data tools supported by a secure network, enabling the HDSS database team at UNICAL to track cohorts across the entire country.

SITE LEADER AND DIRECTOR: Dr. Martin Meremikwu (MD, MSc) With 30 years of professional experience, Dr. Martin Meremikwu is a distinguished expert in Paediatrics and Child Health and Clinical Epidemiology. He brings extensive expertise in clinical trials research, spanning 22 years, along with 11 years of experience in surveillance studies and a commendable track record of 18 years in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. Dr. Meremikwu’s rich background also includes 24 years of dedicated community engagement, reflecting his commitment to holistic healthcare solutions.