The Kwara State Government has commended the World Bank and other Development Partners for supporting the state over the years, which has contributed to improved health outcomes and strengthening of health systems across the state.
The Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, made the commendation on Wednesday during a two-day biannual review meeting with all Primary Health Care (PHC) programme officers across the state, held at E-Phoenix Hotel, Ilorin.
According to a statement signed by Alade Opeyemi made available to the press on Thursday,Elelu noted that the importance of this review meeting for all Local Government Area programme officers cannot be overemphasised, noting that it would not have been possible without the support of the development partners, especially the World Bank through the Immunization Plus Malaria progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project.
The Executive Secretary explained that the meeting was organised for programme officers to assess progress, identify challenges and plan improvements based on collected data and performance indicators, stating that the PHC review meeting facilitates knowledge sharing, discusses strategies for improving vaccination coverage and coordination of efforts with partners to achieve national and global immunization goals.
Elelu stressed that the review meeting for health workers is in line with the vision of the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has made significant investments in the health sector and provided unprecedented support for primary health care in the state.
She advised participants to freely discuss recommendations and challenges with the management and development partners, reiterating that the two-day meeting provides an opportunity for health workers across the state to come together.
The Executive Secretary urged the participants to remain attentive throughout the meeting, while appreciating the management and staff of the Agency for the good work and commitment.
In his presentation, the Director, Primary Health Care Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, emphasised the importance of Integrated Medical Outreach Programmes (I-MOP) to strengthen immunization and other PHC services as well as the action plans to improve primary health care output in underserved communities, calling on the participants to focus on the vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
In his goodwill message, the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health Officer, Dr. Dauda Gwomson, who spoke on behalf of other partners, congratulated the state for holding this vital review meeting, reassuring the state that ‘’We are here to make sure that the state succeeds just as we’ve been doing. We’ll give you the maximum support that is required.”
Dr. Gwonson implored participants to be open about the areas where they face challenges and stressed that they should avoid concealing issues that could be addressed at the meeting, adding that the meeting provides a rare opportunity to seek solutions directly, especially with the Executive Secretary present to listen and respond to their concerns.
