IMPACT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETS FOR 2ND QUARTER

To effectively monitor the performance of Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transformation Services (IMPACT) and to ensure milestone achievement of the programme, the State Steering Committee held its quarter two meeting.

Speaking at the event which took place at the Mydas Hotels Owo, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka reiterated that the fund is a loan with the lifespan of 25 years put together by the Government of Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa purposely to fight the scourge of malaria among children under five and women in childbearing age.
The Commissioner stated further that the project would improve access to health care services in the 203 wards of the State.

Dr Ajaka harped on accountability on the part of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) while also seeking for the collaboration of the team urging them to work together as a team in order for the State to benefit from the project emphasizing that IMPACT is one project, one platform in the health sector of Ondo State.

The Project Coordinator for IMPACT programme for Ondo State, Dr. Waheed Folayan while doing his presentation on the Malaria Component of IMPACT noted that about 74,000 children die every year as a result of Malaria in Nigeria.
He stated that Ondo State was selected as a result of the fact that the State was without support for Malaria control for years and the lack of Malaria financing was envisaged to result in mortality increase. Dr Afolayan noted that the Malaria component of the project would strengthen service delivery and health care system in the State.

In the presentation of the Project Manager for Immunization Plus component, Dr. Kunle Omode from the Primary Healthcare Development Agency said children under 5 and women in Ondo State would be the key beneficiaries of the programme and it would impart positively on the health care system and the overall population of the State.

Omode opined that the programme would strengthen immunization, reproductive, maternal and nutrition service delivery in the context of strengthening the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the State.

Some of the recommendations of the State Steering Committee members are: involvement of secondary facilities, collaboration with line ministries such as Education and Environment, involvement of the academia for research and documentation of the success, rigorous advocacy to domesticate results, aligning with Government programmes and actions. The committee congratulated the citizens of the State and called for total coverage of the State while also advising synergy among implementing agencies.

In the meeting were, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka; Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Isaac Omowumi represented by Mr. Ayodeji Falodun; Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola; Accountant General for the State, Mr. Ileri Orisabinueni; Executive Secretary, Ondo State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency, Pharm. Amos Ayegbusi and the Director General, Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Biodun Oyeneyin.