News From Kogi
Kogi in strategic move to reposition health sector through review, development of its AOP
Kogi State Government in partnership with UNICEF has facilitated a review of the 2023 annual operational plan (AOP) for the State Ministry of Health following which a new one has been developed for 2024.
This is aimed at repositioning the health sector in the State to deliver positive outcomes and change the narratives of negative indicators in the year 2024
The State commissioner of health Dr. Usman Zakari, who spoke recently in Abuja during a six-day workshop on the Review of 2023 Annual Operational Plan and the development of the 2024 Annual Operational Plan from the Kogi State Strategic Health Development II,
underscored the importance of the exercise, saying “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.’
According to him they came to take stock in order to move forward.
‘We are reviewing the last annual operational plan (AOP) and developing a new one .
“We are trying to look at the status of implementation of some of the things we said we were going to do in the last AOP. By the time we have done that and we have done the review, then we now look at how we are going to do business going forward.
“If you don’t have these plans on ground, you can actually meet targets without knowing it, and you may not even meet targets without knowing it.
One of the reasons why it is important to have a plan he observed is to make decisive and deliberate efforts towards meeting them and to be strategic on all the items in the plan.
“If you noticed, almost the entire Ministry of Health is here. The reason why we didn’t allow them to do this around the office is other exigencies around the office will cause a lot of distractions. We have drastically reduced the level of activities in the Ministry of Health and brought them here to Abuja so that we can all contribute to developing this all-important document which will show us strategic direction on how to move forward.
“There are several components of it. There is resource allocation: both human and financial resources. There are some health indicators – maternal mortality, under 5 mortality and all of those things.
“This plan will help to move towards changing the narratives.”
According to him, this proper planning has helped to improve the health situation in Kogi state under Governor Yahaya Bello for all to see.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has made some decisive actions and declared a state of emergency in the health sector. There were some dilapidated facilities that he met on assumption of office which he has upgraded. They included the General Hospital, Idah, which he has upgraded and equipped to the level you can call a specialist hospital.
“There are many hospitals like that. As a matter of fact, there are new ones springing up where they never existed before. There is Ultra Modern Hospital in Gegu Baki, built and equipped with the state of the art equipments.”
He disclosed that plans have been concluded to recruit adequate health personnel for the facilities.
“There is another one in Badoko in Ajaokuta Local Government Area, similar to the one you see in Gegu. There is Ultra Modern Reference Hospital in Okene, one of the best in Africa with MRI, City scan, Hyperbaric oxygen chamber, etc. Those are the things we don’t have in the North Central.
Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Health, Falilat Abdulrazak, said the review of 2023 AOP and to develop the one for 2024 is a very welcome development because it will help us to assess how well we did in 2023 and to project what we are going to do in 2024.
“The best thing for greater success is planning. That is what we have come to do here.
“This activity is to have our plans as to the various activities that we are going to implement in 2024 in the health sector. If we don’t have a plan, then we might not have a sense of direction. It is a leading program for implementation and success of our health programs in 2024.
“It is going to be a very impactful workshop for all of us because all our key officers are here; our programme officers, the Chief Medical Director of all our health agencies and hospitals and all the heads of departments of the state ministry of health including the Honourable Commissioner and myself as the administrative head of the ministry are here.
“It is an in-house programme, which means we moved to Abuja to concentrate and devote enough time to what we have to do.
“At the end of the day both the human and material aspect of our health institution will improve.”
Senior medical officer
FMOH, department of Health planning, research and statistics Dr kelechi Obi who facilitated the workshop said,
“We are planning for financial year 2024 and the Federal Ministry of Health is here to give Kogi State technical support to help them plan for the health sector for 2024
“It is one of our mandate at the Federal Ministry of Health to support States for the new year. So what we are doing here, we will be using the strategic development plan of Kogi State.
“So my coming here is to guide them and support in taking intervention.
“Interventions are those things that the State will do to improve the health outcomes in Kogi State. “Those programs that the State needs to plan for that reach out to those in the rural areas, impact on their health status positively so that the poor health indices in Kogi State and Nigeria would be better and we will achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
“That is our target, so basically that is the aim of coming, to guide them in doing the activities of these programs to impact on the people in Kogi State and to implement what they planned for, what they costed for it to be part of the budget and present to the state Government for the 2024 State budget as what Kogi State Ministry of health has planned for the sector.
“Now we are hoping that whatever a State will do should be those things they planned for.
“What we are saying is all those things they want to do, they should bring them under a forum like this, let us have everything we do in the health sector under one roof. In 2024 all these things we want to do this fiscal year and the hope is that they will not deviate from what they have already planned
“One of the things we encourage people to do when they plan is the fact the Ministry of health has an envelope, the budget that the state government gave them.
“We are telling them that what they plan to do in 2024, they should ensure they fit in to that envelope or the ceiling that government has given to the Ministry. “Government cannot solve all the problems. So let us priortise all those things that we want to do in 2024 /to be within our envelope.
It is commendable to see that the State commissioner of Health is at this workshop, the Permanent Secretary is here. This is my 8th State I have been to give technical support and this is the first State where the commissioner and all other heads of departments, agencies remain throughout the retreat
“it is good so they will understand what other workers are passing through and also it is at this kind of meeting they will make their directiion
On the gap in funding, Pharm Eric Akoji said, in every facet of live there must always be gaps because there is no perfection in humanity.
‘What we look at is from the presentation of the Federal Ministry of health on the health facility tour, gaps are inevitable in everything. Firstly the funds to implement everything is not there but most time there is a kind of priority given to some areas.
Why we are looking at the health sector as one of the key areas is that an unhealthy person cannot work, a teacher who is sick cannot teach, a farmer who is sick cannot go to farm. “That is why most times anything that concerns health we push that it should be given topmost priority.
Civil servants have always been pushing that government should look.at the health area as where much investments should be done.
“At civil service level what we see as onus is to continue to engage government giving them the reason why they must do more investments in the health sector as a healthy nation is a wealthy nation
This program what is it aimed at achieving
“Sometime in June/July last year we also met in this Abuja, under the sponsorship of UNICEF who is also supporting the state in this process
“Operational plan is like a working document. It gives us direction, where our health interventions should move on in the next year
“We did it last year. Coming back this time is to first of all review what we have done last year that we want to do in terms of health intervention for the people and how far we have gone and it is from the review that we hear the terms, optimal performance and under performance.
“What leads to all those is because of insufficient funding at the disposal of the key players.
So having done this review for two days moving forward we have seen those things we agreed to do last year that have not been done and so we are now working around it to see what was actually responsible. “Sometines it may not be the lack of funds but human shortcoming because it is not everything that is tied to funds there are somethings that is a simple activity of recognizing key stakeholders.
Dr Ifeyinwa Anyanyo of UNICEF was available for technical support
***Demand N50m ransom
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Gun-wielding hoodlums have abducted three relations of former Daily Trust Editor, Malam Ahmed Tahir Ajobe, few days after the demise of his mother earlier in the week.
The abducted family members of the journalist include one male and two females including Mr Ajobe’s immediate younger sister, Halimtu-Sadiya Tahir.
They were abducted on their way from a nearby community market in Awo, Ankpa local government area of Kogi State, on the deplorable Ankpa-Adoka-Markudi road.
Mr Tahir Ajobe lost his mother, Malama Aishetu Tahir on Sunday after a protracted
illness.
The victims were said to have gone to the market to purchase items for the 7th day prayers for the ace Journalist’s deceased mother when they were kidnapped.
Although the journalist could not be immediately reached for details on the incident, a family friend said their abductors have demanded for N50 million for the release of the victims.
“Yes, three of Ajobe’s family members were kidnapped at gunpoint at about 3:pm on Thursday. The kidnappers reached out on Friday afternoon demanding for N50 million as ransom.
“However, I can’t confirm what the family is offering in the negotiations because I had to leave the community for an emergency in Lokoja.
“What I can say is that no amount has been paid yet and the victims are still in captivity,” he explained.
Williams Aya (SP), Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya (SP), confirmed the incident, saying that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, has already deployed his men to the area to ensure the rescue of the victims
Aya said that the Police Commissioner, Bethrand Onuoha has also ordered the drafting of the police tactical team to the area to reinforce the team there.
“Asussuring that everything possible would be done to ensure the safe release of the abducted person and bring the criminals to justice. (Ends)
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
SPEAKERS of Houses of Assembly from the North-Central Geo-political zone have called on the Federal Government to be decisive in tackling the spate of insecurity in the zone to avoid food food crisis, underdevelopment.
The Speakers from Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger and Plateau states made the call in a communique arising from resolutions reached at the end of their conference in Lokoja.
The Speakers held that the menacing insecurity threatening existence of the zone had continuously negated development efforts in the North-Central states with negative effects on food security and general development.
“Aware that there cannot be genuine development where there is no peace, we condemn the present state of insecurity in the North Central zone of the country.
“This is because the situation has retarded development in different spheres of endeavour,” they said.
It added that the zone is the food basket of the country and that farmers have not been able to cultivate the land and provide food for the citizens despite the worsening food crisis in the country,
“Farmers/herders clashes have continued unabated, yet, kidnapping has added a more dangerous dimension to the sad situation.”
The Speakers therefore urged the Federal Government to implement effective measures to address the lingering insecurity and crises that have bedeviled the region and stem the tide of the problem crippling the zone and exacerbating the poverty situation of their people.
The Speakers commended the Federal Government for the sustained dualisation of the Keffi-Makurdi and Makurdi to the Eastern Nigeria road projects.
They however, called for increased investment in critical infrastructure such as roads, healthcare facilities, and education to enhance economic development and improve the living standards of citizens.
“We ask that the current Federal Government expedite action on the need to complete the protracted project of the Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road, the Abuja-Suleija-Minna, the Abuja-Akwanga-Jos Road Projects and other projects linking the North and the south through the North Central Geopolitical Region of the country.”
The Speakers expressed appreciation to their Governors, past and present, and the people of the zone in the enthronement of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led government, acknowledging that the North Central region remains the melting point of Nigerian politics.
They therefore emphasized the need for political tolerance for creation of a healthy political atmosphere, inclusivity to reduce political tension and cooperation among stakeholders, while also fostering peaceful coexistence and good governance.
“We are however miffed by the aftermath of the election, vis-a-vis what has become of some of our political leaders, despite their sterling roles in ensuring the victory of the APC – led government.
“We will continue to further our interactions and discussions with other critical stakeholders on this to determine the next cause of action in subsequent political decisions in the interest of our region.
“We have also resolved to continually engage relevant and critical stakeholders while working together to address other challenges facing the region, including economic empowerment, environmental degradation, and social justice.
The North-Central States Assembly Speakers Conference is being chaired by Rt Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh (Atonko u Mbatiav), Speaker of Benue Assembly.
Present at the meeting were Rt Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker, Niger State; Rt Hon. Danladi Jatau, Nasarawa; Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf (Badakoshi of Lokoja), Kogi and Rt Hon. Gabriel Dewar, Plateau State. (Ends)
***Urges parents on quick response to meet target
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
The National Population Commission (NPC), Kogi State Office, on Thursday said it has so far registered a total of 185,307 children under the E-birth enrollment in the state ahead of the December 31, 2024 target.
Abiodun Ojo, Kogi Director of the Commission disclosed this at a Press Conference to showcase the level of response and compliance with the E-Birth Enrollment on Thursday in Lokoja.
The press conference organised by the Kogi State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) as part of its collaborative efforts with the NPC, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the National Identify Management Commission, (NIMC).
Ojo hinted that the collaboration was aimed at enabling dissemination of needed information on the E-Birth project.
The State Director who was represented by Mrs Omattah Ralie, Head of Vital Registration of the NPC assured that the office would be able to conclude the E-Birth registration exercise in the state by December this year in line with the UNICEF deadline.
The NPC Director appealed to parents who are yet to avail their children of the opportunity of the E-Birth Registration to do so without further delay as the deadline for the exercise is close by.
“E-Birth registration exercise is free hence the more reason why parents should be encouraged to make their children available for the enrollment”, Ojo advised.
The State Director identified parental resistance especially in capturing of their children faces, nonchalant attitude or absenteeism and making their children unavailable for the exercise as a major challenges identified so far.
Speaking earlier, Mr Patrick Edogbanya, Acting State Director of National Orientation Agency, Kogi Directorate, on behalf of his Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, noted that the E-BIRTH registration has been on in the last three years.
He explained that the project was being funded by UNICEF, an international donor agency to ensure easier headcount of children world over.
“The National Orientation Agency’s role on the project is to embark on massive sensitization of Nigerians to enable them know what to do to embrace the scheme
“Our sensitization efforts via the use of the Media is a continuous one. So far we have been able to Flagg Off our sensitization and awareness creation on the E-BIRTH registration in ten local government areas of Kogi state” Edogbaya disclosed.
Also speaking, Jeminiwa Olusegun, Assistant Chief Identity Officer of the National Identify Management Commission (NIMC), Kogi State, revealed that 120 million Nigerians out of the expected 300 million population have been captured under the ongoing identification Programme for the nation’s citizens.
According to him, the e-registration Programme is a global practice aimed at enhancing accuracy, security and efficiency in the system (Ends)
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