Committed to a standard healthcare system, stakeholders in the health sector of Ogun State are intensifying moves to come up with transformative initiatives in realisation of the Social Welfare and well-being mantra of the present government.

          In order to achieve this, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, has said that government was determined in ensuring the overall development of a modern, efficient, and effective healthcare delivery system that guarantees the productivity and well-being of the citizenry.

          Speaking at a 5-day workshop on 2024 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) development, organised by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ijebu-Ode, Dr. Coker, stated that the workshop was aimed at harmonising all health programmes activities in the State by adopting a participatory process that involves consultations with key stakeholders.

          She said, ‘’a total number of 696 and 386 activities were developed in the year 2022 and 2023 Annual Operational Plan respectively and implementation status was 68 percent and 62 percent implemented from January to June for the year 2023’’.

          The Governor’s aide enjoined the participants to play their parts during the workshop by developing measurable and achievable activities in the 2024 Plan.

          Earlier in his presentation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, said the State was harnessing the technical and logistic supports from development partners and other private organisations to enhance its health system, noting that the 2024 AOP would be an improvement on the past editions, and called for all hands to be on deck to ensure the success of the set goals for the workshop.

          On her part, a representative from UNICEF, Mrs. Florence Molokwu, assured the gathering that quality time would be spent to develop plans that are achievable and that would improve coverage and achievements in 2024, while her counterpart from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Akin Akinbajo, said the organisation was committed to achieving some transformative goals before 2030, listing them as, ending preventable maternal deaths, all forms of gender-based violence, including early child marriage and harmful traditional practices.

          Dr. Akinbajo noted that the AOP was coming at a time UNFPA is supporting Ogun State to forecast the supply of Family Planning commodities for 2023,2024,2025 and 2026, expressing hope that Ogun State would be among the leading States in sustaining the procurement of Family Planning commodities.