The Federal Government, led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, is set to initiate collaborative efforts with state governments to enhance the quality of data collected on health facilities.
This announcement was made during the inaugural quarterly performance dialogue with State Commissioners for Health held on Monday in Abuja.
The performance dialogue aims to evaluate progress against key health indicators, fostering performance management and accountability.
Prof. Pate highlighted that the initiative will focus on improving data quality through audits and triangulation with other services to minimize discrepancies among data sources over time.
This effort aligns with the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), reflecting the cooperative spirit mandated by the National Health Act of 2014.
The Act emphasizes shared responsibility and collaboration among various providers, including government levels, the private sector, and development partners.
On December 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu introduced the HSRII, with state governors and the FCT signing a compact to enhance population outcomes collaboratively.
Prof. Pate expressed gratitude to development partners for their support in directing resources towards critical health areas, reinforcing the initiative’s focus on accountability and continuous improvement.
The compact aims to address several key indicators, including improving Penta 3 coverage, increasing the proportion of fully immunized children, reducing zero-dose children, enhancing deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants, and improving antenatal care coverage.
Additionally, it seeks to expand access to health insurance and primary healthcare services.
Prof. Pate encouraged states to monitor their progress against these indicators and reiterated the federal government’s commitment to evaluating service utilization rates and public satisfaction.
During the dialogue, some commissioners raised concerns about data generation and processing challenges at facilities.
The Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr. Tomi Coker, noted that many data managers lacked the necessary skills for effective data collection.
She advocated for hiring skilled personnel and embracing innovative approaches to address these issues.
The dialogue is designed to foster cross-state problem-solving, highlight state perspectives, and address challenges while prioritizing areas for support.
It aims to assess the performance and contributions of states to the National Health System, offering opportunities for technical collaboration and programmatic alignment.
