The collective responsibility of stakeholders across the health sector has been underscored as critical to sustaining the advancements in healthcare delivery achieved by the Ogun State government in recent years.  

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker emphasised this priority during a meeting held in Abeokuta to disseminate the findings of the Joint Annual Review (JAR), a comprehensive evaluation of the health sector conducted earlier in January, urging sustained collaboration among partners, government agencies, and communities to safeguard these gains.  

She noted that the state’s drive toward continuous healthcare improvement relies on meticulous stakeholder planning, with the JAR serving as a strategic tool to measure progress and address gaps.  

“The Joint Annual Review provides a platform for stakeholders to evaluate yearly progress, assess challenges, and explore strategies to strengthen Ogun State’s health system. Our goal is to determine whether current strategies effectively achieve desired results,” Dr. Coker explained. 

“There is no real progress without measuring implemented plans. This meeting helps us identify successes and areas needing correction. I believe this would ensure that we continue to deliver quality, accessible healthcare for the citizenry,” she added.  

Addressing 2024 challenges, the Commissioner called for stronger community engagement, upgraded ambulance services, health worker training, and digital tools to enhance oversight and coordination, assuring of the State government's sustained efforts towards complementing its gains in recent years. 

In his welcome address, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Dr. Abayomi Bamiselu thanked development partners for bolstering planning and monitoring efforts, crediting their support for improving healthcare outcomes in the state.  

UNICEF Health Specialist Dr. Ijeoma Agbo praised data-driven tools like the JAR, stressing their role in fostering collaborative solutions to gaps and advancing health outcomes through actionable recommendations.