Kogi, Others Initiate Plan For Health Sector

In its bid to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare delivery for Kogi State people, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners, has commenced the development, harmonisation, and finalisation of the 2026 Annual Operation Plan (AOP) for the state health sector.

In a statement by the Ministry’s Information Officer, Rotimi Odofin, in Lokoja, the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, inaugurated the AOP development session at the Barcelona Hotel, Blantyre Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

During the inauguration, Dr. Adeiza emphasised that the AOP is intended to serve as a living document that will guide operational activities within the state health sector.
The 2026 AOP will act as a strategic framework to direct various initiatives and will be utilised to assess the sector’s progress.

Dr. Adeiza expressed his gratitude to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the substantial resources allocated to support the health sector across Nigeria.

He also acknowledged the commitment of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who has prioritised healthcare as a key focus of his administration.

In addition, he commended the foundational work laid by the previous governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in advancing the state’s health sector.

Reassuring participants of improved funding for healthcare, the commissioner urged them to dedicate their efforts towards the advancement of the health sector.

In the technical session, Dr. Asiru Adamu from the National SWAP Office highlighted that AOP is a critical driver of both state and national health policy programmes and initiatives.

He encouraged participants to adopt intentional strategies in the implementation of health activities within their respective departments, institutions, and agencies.

Dr. Adamu expressed his sincere expectation for a departure from traditional practices, advocating for a creative and improvement-oriented mindset to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated.

In his opening remarks, Johnson Aieyedogbon, the Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics at the State Ministry of Health, expressed his enthusiasm for Kogi State being the first in the nation to initiate the development of the 2016 Annual Operational Plan (AOP).

He emphasised that this achievement underscores the state government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare service operations and delivery for the overall well-being of its citizens.

Aieyedogbon noted that the AOP development process is a week-long endeavour, relocated from Lokoja to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure participants’ focused engagement, thereby maximising contributions and achieving successful outcomes.

Dr. Emmanuel Bola Jonah, the desk officer overseeing the SWAP approach, highlighted that the AOP is being developed using this budgeting methodology.

He pointed out that the AOP development process is strategically aligned with the state’s annual budget preparation for the upcoming year, ensuring that a progressive operational document is established prior to the finalisation of the budget.

According to Odofin, partners present during the AOP development commended the state government for its robust health system support, noting the health sector’s significant impact and effectiveness under the current administration.