Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Crucial events in the Health Sector planned BY NSEOBONG DAVID


Two crucial events in the Health sector are being planned for in Akwa Ibom State within the year.  They are the eight State council on Health meeting holding on 31st July, 2014 and the 57th National Council on Health billed between 25th and 29th August, 2014.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. EmemAbasi Bassey who announced this during the Health Sector Development Partners Forum in Uyo said the meetings will afford stakeholders in the health sector an opportunity to brainstorm on vital issues affecting the Health care delivery in the state and the Nation.

Dr. Bassey explained that the Health Sector Development Partner’s Forum was formed to coordinate activities of all the Development Partners intervening in the State’s health sector with a view to avoiding duplication of activities and waste of resources.  He said the Ministry of Health with the support of partners has focused on strengthening reporting on the District Health Information System Platforms (DHIS) and establishing a performance management framework.


The Health Commissioner mentioned parts of the framework to include holding of regular steering committee meetings where recent activities are renewed, discussion of challenges and deliberation of partners’ efforts and activities.  He further stated that with the support of partners especially the serving one million lives initiative that State had progressed from a mere 7% reporting on the DHIS as of November, 2013 to about 84% as of April, 2014.

Dr. Bassey reiterated the role of private health providers in the collection and harmonization of data in the State, stressing that such data became necessary for achieving set goals in health care delivery.
He announced that the State government is strategizing ways of incorporating private health care facilities into the National Health Insurance Scheme to promote efficient health care.

Presenting an update and progress report on the District Health Information system with malaria review, Dr. Emmanuel Ekong said the state has the capability of saving over 21,000 additional lives by 2015 across its Primary Healthcare pillars.  Dr. Ekong made a case for the strengthening of the primary health care facilities for higher productivity venture and the benefit of the populace.

The State Project Manager, Malaria Control, Dr. John Orok harped on prevention approaches towards malaria elimination and urged people to access the District Health Information System to enable them understand the progress made so far in the health sector.

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