The Commissioner for Health in Kogi State, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, expressed appreciation towards MSI Nigeria for their valuable contributions to the state’s healthcare sector, particularly in the realm of family planning services. This sentiment of gratitude was made by the Commissioner during a stakeholders meeting with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices in Lokoja. Dr. Abdulazeez underscored the critical importance of partnering with MSI Nigeria, recognizing that achieving the state’s family planning objectives would be significantly more challenging without their support.
Furthermore, Dr. Abdulazeez emphasized the necessity of conducting a SWOT analysis to ensure the effective implementation of healthcare programs and the integration of STEM principles into healthcare practices. He reassured MSI Nigeria of the state government’s unwavering commitment and support, acknowledging the pivotal role their services play in enhancing healthcare outcomes in the state.
Dr. Muazu Musa Omeiza, the Executive Director of Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, talked on the importance of selecting the right individuals to provide reproductive health services. “They need to have the capacity to provide these services, including training and support,” he stated. Dr. Muazu noted that he has encountered instances where master trainers required training themselves, highlighting the need for competent and knowledgeable personnel.
To achieve this, the ED of SPHCDA recommended selecting individuals who possess the necessary time, strength, commitment, and knowledge to train others. This would enable them to take on the remaining aspects of the project and adapt to the evolving agenda of the president. Dr. Omeiza stressed that having the right people on board is crucial for the project’s success.
MSI Country Director, Mr. Emmanuel Ajah, addressed stakeholders at the meeting, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and accurate data in family planning services. He highlighted the challenges in commodity procurement, citing a significant shortfall in available funds. For instance, last year’s total forecast was $41 million, but only less than $20 million was available.
Mr. Ajah explained the commodity allocation process, where states make requests, and UNFPA allocates a percentage of the requested amount based on available stock. He emphasized that this process can lead to discrepancies and shortages, particularly if states’ requests exceed available commodities. The MSI Country Director also stressed the importance of scheduled and unscheduled visits to health facilities to ensure accountability and quality of services.
Dr. Ayo Olayemi, Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Hospitals Management Board, posed an insightful question at the MSI stakeholders meeting, seeking clarification on the protocol for monitoring healthcare facilities. He wondered aloud whether unannounced visits to facilities are permissible, given the conventional wisdom that advance notice is required to ensure readiness.
Dr. Olayemi’s query was motivated by concerns about accountability and the need to verify that tasks are being executed as planned. He acknowledged that advance notice can sometimes lead to artificial arrangements, where facilities present a sanitized version of their operations. By seeking input from the MSI team, Dr. Olayemi aimed to strike a balance between effective monitoring and fairness to healthcare providers.
Dr. Emmanuel Bola Jonah, Swap Desk officer for Kogi State, commended the presentation made during the stakeholders meeting, praising its comprehensive coverage of key areas. He then posed several questions, seeking clarification on the sharing of documents and the scale-up of facilities to cater to people without vision. Specifically, he inquired about the location, selection criteria, and percentage of facilities to be captured.
Dr. Jonah also expressed interest in understanding how the selected facilities would be tracked, particularly in relation to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative and the utilization of commodities. Furthermore, he requested information on how the state and federal government would be involved in the commodity supply chain. He emphasized the importance of coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure a cohesive approach to healthcare service delivery.
Mrs. Ogechi Onuoha of MSI presented an overview of the organization’s focus on family planning and sexual health. She emphasized MSI’s vision of a world where everybody has access to quality healthcare, and children are born by choice, not chance.
Additionally, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr. Johnson Ayedegbun, and the Director of Family Planning, Mrs. Abiodun Florence, also highlighted key areas of emphasis during the meeting. Their contributions underscored the importance of collaboration and data-driven decision-making in improving healthcare outcomes.
The highlight of the event was the decoration of the Country Director of MSI Nigeria with a traditional woven cloth by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Docas Enehe Omeneke. She commended the Country Director for his outstanding contributions to the health sector, recognizing the significant impact of MSI Nigeria’s programs on the lives of Nigerians.
Dorothy Onoja
PRO
Ministry of Health
