The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is partnering Akwa Ibom State government to strengthen the health sector under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative driven through the Healthcare Sector Wide Approach (SWAp).
Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, stated this at the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal and Investment Initiative (NHSRII) Capacity Building Training for Health Managers in the state.
The Health Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Patrick Eshiet, said the state level training programme, which focuses on Health Systems Strengthening, Systems Thinking in Healthcare , Problem-Solving Strategies, Operational Planning for Health Sector, Strategic Blueprint and Understanding of the country’s Healthcare Sector SWAp reforms, aims to equip health managers in the state with advanced knowledge and practical skills to drive sustainable improvements in health service delivery.
“It will serve as a starting point of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Roadmap. At the end of this State level training, it is expected that you would have all gained advanced knowledge and practical skills to drive sustainable improvements in health service delivery and also form a pool of trained program managers that will support the Local Government Areas to build skills that will enable them use systems thinking, problem-solving, planning, resource allocation during their monthly performance review meetings and in the development of their 2026 Annual Operation Plan, AOP.”
The Commissioner highlighted some of the State government’s investments in the State under the ARISE Agenda Healthcare Blueprint designed designed to change the overall health indices of the state.
“Top on the front burner is the building of, in 18 months, the Ibom International Hospital, an 8-floor ultra-modern and ultra-equipped medical facility to cater for the tertiary-level health needs of Akwa Ibom State and beyond. Other interventions by the state government are the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, State Health Insurance Agency, Medical Oxygen Production Plant, Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Health Sector Reform Law and Taskforces.”
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Edima Akpan, pledged the Federal Government’s continued support to sub-national governments towards actualizing the Human Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Health Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“So the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is to mobilize resources to tackle the health challenges in the country. Evidence has shown that integration can improve our health indices. So we need cooperation of all stakeholders, we can plan together to achieve our goals”.
Also speaking, the State Surveillance Officer of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Eyakeme Ekpoudom, who represented the WHO State Coordinator, said the Organisation will continue to be a committed partner and will support governments at all levels in building leadership and institutional capacity to sustain the gains of the Healthcare Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) in the country.
The event was attended by health managers drawn from all the local government areas of the state as well as representatives of international development agencies.
