By Rotimi Odofin
The Kogi State Ministry of Health has commenced concluded a three-day workshop dedicated to formulating the Health Security Annual Operation Plan (AOP) for the state. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Francis Akpa, the State Director for Public Health, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza. Dr. Akpa underscored the critical importance of this development plan, noting its function as a strategic guide for the State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for public health.
Dr. Akpa encouraged participants to engage actively and attentively, emphasizing the need for a robust and comprehensive AOP to enhance the state’s health sector. This collaborative approach ensures that the unique insights and specific needs of each unit are incorporated, thereby contributing to the overall advancement and success of the state’s health sector operations.
In his remarks at the workshop’s commencement, State Epidemiologist Dr. Austine Ojotule highlighted the AOP’s significance in equipping the EOC with a detailed operational framework to guide its activities in public health emergencies. The plan is designed to provide a solid foundation for delivering emergency healthcare services and effectively responding to disease outbreaks across the state.
Dr. Ojotule emphasized that the primary aims and objectives of the Health Security Workshop plan are to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies and to prioritize the utilization of available funds. Additional objectives include fostering partnerships among government entities, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders for coordinated responses to health security threats, as well as improving surveillance and early detection of outbreaks.
The workshop features participants from the Kogi State Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Livestock Development, Ministry of Environment, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), the state Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as Development partners from World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
