In a bid to provide accessible, qualitative and sustainable healthcare delivery system that meets the needs of the good people of the state, Ministry of Health and Stakeholders have validated 2023 Annual Operational plan.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka made the assertion in his keynote address at the validation meeting of the newly developed Year 2023 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) held at the Grand Capital Hotel, Alagbaka, Akure today.
He noted that the Operational plan was developed sometimes in July 2022 by representatives of all the Departments in the Ministry of Health, Parastatals and Agencies within the Health sector including partners and relevant stakeholders
The Commissioner explained that the process of formulating the Year 2023 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) involved a one-week comprehensive and thorough harmonization meeting of representatives of all stakeholders in the state's health sector as well as development partners.
He therefore affirmed that the validation of the contents of the AOP is worthwhile, timely and expedient.
Ajaka expressed delight at the all-inclusive nature of the validation meeting with a view to ensuring that the review and validation touches every aspect of health care delivery in Ondo State.
This, he noted was premised on the fact that adequate implementation of Annual Operational Plan ensures efficient deployment of resources.
Ajaka charged implementing partners present to take advantage of the validated AOP document to further identify areas of technical and financial support.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Folukemi Aladenola said operational planning provides among other things a road map for achieving strategic results adding that once stakeholders get the AOP right, we are closer to achieving the desired outcomes in the state's health sector.
Aladenola acknowledged the efforts of the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics at ensuring that the validation meeting is held this quarter in keeping with the time frame of the sponsors, UNICEF.
The Permanent Secretary charged stakeholders to painstakingly go through the developed AOP document and ensure its validation and implementation saying it is in doing this that stakeholders can justify their efforts at developing the plan as well as attain the desired goals.
Aladenola appreciated the unflinching support of the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN as well as the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka in raising the bar of healthcare delivery in Ondo State.
The representative, United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), Mrs Elohor Micheal-Eze lauded the giant stride of the ministry in moving the health sector forward while also promising that UNICEF would continue to support Annual Operational Plan development processes for the benefit of the citizens of the State.
The Director, Department of Planning Research and Statistics, Dr Uche Odionyenma while giving the Overview of the 2023 Annual Operational Plan Development said priorities were identified during the AOP development process by assessing progress, using all obtainable interventions, considering the available resources utilizing SWOT analysis.
In the meeting were representatives from the Ministry of Health, Hospitals Management Board, College of Health Technology, Contributory Health Commission, Ondo State Action Committee on AIDS, Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Damien Foundation, UNICEF, CHAI, WHO and others