By Kemi Olatunde

The Monthly Primary Health Care integrated meeting has helped to improve the health care delivery system at local government levels.

This was the submission of the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu at the March, 2022 edition of the integrated PHC meeting.

Akanbiemu who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr (Mrs) Yetunde Olagbuji, said the meeting which brings together health experts from World Health Organization, (WHO), Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA), Medical Officers of Health (MOH) at the LGAs and Health Management Information Officers every month, has improved the quality of data generation, timeliness of submission as well as the reporting rate

He informed the Medical Officers of Health to always disseminate information received at the monthly meeting to the local government meetings so that Health Officers at the LGAs can be abreast of health service issues in their respective facilities and communities.

While acknowledging the vibrancy of the HMI officers for being able to make presentations at the meeting, Akanbiemu thanked the partners especilly the WHO, UNICEF and NPHCDA for always collaborating with the Agency.

Also speaking, Coordinator of World Health Organization in Ondo State, Dr Dele David, commended the efforts of Health Officers at collating and analysing data to improve the health system in the state.

Dr David said data, when generated and analysed will show whether the system was doing well, indicate areas where improvement was needed to further strengthen the health system.

In his own contribution, the Director Medical Services, Dr Paulinus Omode, suggested that data collation at the facilities should include Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) like heart diseases, kidney diseases, hypertension, diabetes, etc., as these were currently on the increase in Nigeria.

Dr Omode used the forum to thank the School Health Programme Officer in the Agency, Mrs Bello, for her commitment, dedication and passion for school health activities to the extent that she has consistently been providing school health assessment visits with her personal fund.