The Ondo State Government has sought more interventions from development partners in her health system towards achieving overall quality health care delivery in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka made the call in his keynote address at the Partners Coordinating Forum Meeting held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Health today.

Ajaka noted that the Partners Coordinating Forum was formed to among other things, provide a viable platform for harmonizing activities and plans of development partners in the state's health sector with a view to coordinating and strengthening partnerships for health interventions in Ondo State.

The Commissioner added that development partners' interventions increase the fiscal space and overall financing in the health sector stressing that the forum will undoubtedly drive the needed collaboration between the state government and the development partners.

Ajaka reiterated the government's commitment to creating the enabling environment for partners to operate optimally in the state as the government alone cannot fund health care services.

He expressed optimism that the reactivation of the forum will streamline partners' activities and help solve issues relating to overlap, duplication, and lopsidedness.

"Let me state at this juncture that Ondo State needs more partner interventions in her health systems.

"We are desirous of creating the enabling environment for partners to operate optimally because we believe that Government alone cannot fund health care services.

"This forum will no doubt drive the needed collaboration between government and development partners ", Ajaka stressed.

The Commissioner appreciated the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN for encouraging and appreciating partners' support, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ajaka equally appreciated the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Folukemi Aladenola and her team for making the re-activation of the Partners Coordination Forum possible.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Folukemi Aladenola said the importance of the Partners Coordination Forum cannot be over-emphasized as it is expected to develop a strong monitoring and evaluation framework for partners' funding as well as foster synergy among stakeholders.

Aladenola added that the forum is equally aimed at creating an inventory of areas of partners' key interests and focusing a view on harmonizing partners' interests with state interests.

The Permanent Secretary charged stakeholders in the state's health sector to take advantage of the meeting to identify challenges and bottlenecks encountered by partners in the implementation of their activities in Ondo State as well as provide necessary information that could aid the resolution of issues and decision making.

Aladenola equally appreciated the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka for his untiring efforts at ensuring that the bar of health care services is raised in Ondo State and for attracting more development partners to the state's health sector.

Representatives of the various health development partners including the WHO, UNFPA, DAMIEN FOUNDATION, APIN, LIONS CLUB, CHIA, FHI360, and ROTARY among others assured the Ondo State government of more collaborations and partnerships towards achieving overall qualitative health care delivery in the state.

HEALTH CARE:ODSG SEEKS MORE INTERVENTIONS FROM PARTNERS