ONDO STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZED NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDs) INTEGRATION MEETING

For a unified framework for data collection, management and reporting process for increased efficiency in the reporting of Non-Communicable Diseases in Ondo State, the Ondo State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and One Sight Essilor Luxottica Foundation (OSELF) has organized a one day integration meeting with some head of facilities and Head Management Information Officers

The meeting has the objective to facilitate integration by developing strategy for integrated data from various sources into a cohesive database and to coordinate and enhance data accessibility for evidenced based decision making in the State.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, the Director Public Health, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi noted that the State had challenges with the data parameters of NCDs and without the data, there won't be document to woo partners to assist the the State.
Speaking on the reason for the meeting, Fagbemi said "we need to come together to put the data together, we need to know the burden, the prevalences in our LGAs, the distribution and the peculiar challenges. And when we have data, we can reach out to the partners to come and assist us.

He reiterated that in compiling the data there must be efficiency in order for the data not to be lost in order to be able to make informed decisions for the people of the State.
Fagbemi also harped on the reluctance of some government and private health facilities to share their data which he described as a breach of the law. "When we register a hospital, it is assumed that all the data coming from the hospital belongs to the Government so that we can provide the right information to the Government for informed decisions. There should not be any reluctance to share data"

He urged the participants to work with the HMIS Officers in their various facilities and also insist on seeing the data recorded for them.
Fagbemi lamented the authorized use of hospital data for publication without any ethical approval emphasizing that there are ethical rules guilding the use of hospital data and he urged them to always get their ethical approval.

In her goodwill message, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hospital Management Board, Dr. Aderonke Fagbemi said data for Non-Communicable Diseases is important and there are margins in the data provided for the diseases in the State. She therefore urged the participants to discuss their challenges, problems in the meeting in order to be able to have seamless data gathering process.

The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Mr. Adewale Moses said the burden of the NCDs is fast overtaking that of the infectious disease in the Country and availability of data is the only way to seek for help. He wished them a fruitful deliberation.

While doing a review of the existing data sources of NCDs data harmonization goal, the Programme Manager, Mrs. Pelumi Ayeni noted that the exercise would enhance data accessibility for decision making while also helping them on their job delivery.