The Kogi State Ministry of Health recently convened a strategic meeting with its partners, MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, to review the findings of a comprehensive facility assessment and to explore innovative strategies for enhancing healthcare services across the state.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, expressed his sincere appreciation to the partners for their unwavering support and collaboration. “We are grateful for your decision to work alongside Kogi State and recognize the significant contributions you have made to our healthcare initiatives,” he stated.
The Commissioner emphasized the critical role of partnership and collaboration in driving progress and invited the MSI Nigeria team to present the results of their assessment.
Mrs. Patience Otache, the regional manager representing MSI Nigeria, conveyed her organization’s gratitude for the state’s ongoing support and collaborative spirit. “Our relationship with the state has evolved into a familial bond,” she remarked. “We are thankful for the conducive environment and the accommodations provided by the state, which have enabled us to flourish.”
Otache specifically acknowledged the state’s efforts in securing office space for their organization, which has facilitated their expansion and growth.
MSI Nigeria has launched two significant projects in Kogi State: the CIFF Challenge and the Randomized Control Trial (RCT) project. According to Otache, the primary objective of the meeting was to provide updates on these initiatives and to discuss future plans.
She then handed over the discussion to the Director of Technical Services, underscoring the organization’s commitment to collaboration and continuous progress in improving healthcare outcomes in the state.
In her presentation, Mrs. Ochanya Idoko Asuelimhen, Director of Technical Services at MSI Nigeria, provided an update on the organization’s ongoing projects in Kogi State. The CIFF Challenge Fund project aims to expand family planning services to 100 primary healthcare sites in Kogi State, while the Randomized Control Trial (RCT) project will evaluate the impact of MSI Nigeria’s work in primary healthcare centers and outreach services.
The RCT project will be implemented in 100 sites across 17 local government areas, with 32 sites serving as test sites, 32 as control sites, and 34 as backup sites. To ensure the integrity of the research, the expansion of the CIFF Challenge Fund project will be limited to four local government areas (Dekina, Ankpa, Omala, and Idah) for now. The CIFF RCT project will run for 18 months, after which the same interventions will be implemented in the control sites.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Stephen Aziz Momoh, expressed his appreciation and commitment to collaborating with partners in promoting healthcare services in the state. “We are committed to cooperating with you in every way possible,” Mr. Momoh stated. “We appreciate everything you have done for us and look forward to continuing our collaboration to promote healthcare services in the state.”
The meeting highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration in driving progress in healthcare services. The Ministry of Health and its partners are working together to improve healthcare outcomes and make informed choices that benefit families and communities.
Dorothy Onoja
PRO
Ministry of Health
