Kemi Olatunde
In order to obtain a more realistic and achievable annual operational plan for the health sector of Ondo State, the Ministry of Health has organised a two-day workshop for its management staff, aimed at setting priorities for the 2025 Annual Operational Plans (AOP).
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, stated that it is important for the health sector to identify a strategic direction for the year 2025 in order to set priorities that would align with the Health Sector Strategy Blueprint (HSSB) from 2023 to 2027.
Ajaka further remarked, “As a critical stakeholder in the health sector, it is essential to ensure that the 2025 AOP is comprehensive, actionable, and reflective of the needs of our people.”
The Commissioner noted that the exercise aimed to set the tone for the strategic direction and operational focus of the health sector, which would be aligned with the 2025 state budget.
He mentioned that the health sector had made commendable strides over the past years, despite challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, workforce strategies, disease outbreaks, and the burden of non-communicable diseases, which, according to him, have remained formidable.
He opined that it was the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure that the planning process is robust and responsive to emerging challenges, aligning with both national and global goals.
The Commissioner urged all participants to focus on key areas such as strengthening healthcare infrastructure, human resources development, disease prevention and control, healthcare financing, health system strengthening, and governance.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola, while giving the opening remarks, noted that this activity was the second in the series of preparations for the development of the Annual Operational Plan.
He emphasised that it was the first time the Ministry would be meeting with stakeholders to set priorities for the state, while also stressing that the planning meeting was a strong foundation put in place for the health sector of Ondo State to thrive.
He urged participants to actively engage in the process with great optimism.
The State-Wide Approach (SWAP) coordinator, Mrs Dorcas Johnson, introduced the Federal Government’s new programme to the stakeholders to acquaint them with the government’s policy thrust in the health sector under the State-Wide Approach.
She described SWAP as a management approach aimed at building a more cohesive, effective, and sustainable health sector, which would help address some of the key challenges in the Nigerian health sector.