The Ogun State Government has developed a holistic Health Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for the year 2023 with a firm call on all stakeholders to work towards implementing the stated goals in the document.

The AOP is an important tool for translating government intentions and policies into tangible actions as well as defining the road map with timelines to reaching the desired destination.

Speaking at the disseminating meeting and formal launch of the AOP in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the 2023 document was technically worked upon with input from development partners and validated to ensure the gaps in the health needs of Ogun residents are well addressed.

Coker said that the annual plan, which is the third in the series, would lead to scaling-up effective service coverage, coordinating support for health and increasing domestic health financing.

She, therefore urged the programme directors, coordinators, monitoring and evaluation(M & E) officers to do their best in ensuring the state achieved up to 75% implementation status in the 2023 AOP, adding that the material should be put to use and not left to gather dust on the shelves.

Coker advised programme directors and managers to raise memo ahead of time to request for fund for any forthcoming project without delay, describing the annual operational plan as an examination which the stakeholders set for themselves during the five-day thorough brainstorming sessions away from distraction a few weeks ago in Ijebu-Ode.

The Commissioner, who also presented laptops and flash drives to the Medical Officers of Health as well as Monitoring and Evaluation officers across the 20 local government areas of the state, noted that gadgets would enhance the quality of data in the state.

Coker said that the government has put all modalities in place to introduce Electronic Medical Records ( EMR) to replace the manual system in line with 21st century practice.

“This document should not sit on the shelves but it should be a dynamic one that we refer to at every point in time. It is our implementing tool for translating government policies into tangible actions.

” It is, therefore, important for us to be proactive because we must not be found wanting in the examination we set for ourselves. We have to work assiduously to implement the expectations for 2023 for the benefits of the entire residents of Ogun State as far as the health sector is concerned, ” she said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, described the 2023 AOP as an improvement on th past two editions, just as he called for all hands to be on deck to ensure the success of the set goals.

In his remarks, the Director of Health, Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Kayode Kusimo thanked the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Coker, for her sterling leadership which has resulted in the state’s annual plan for three consecutive years.

Kusimo also appreciated the development partners for their support, assuring that the next year’s plan will have a resounding implementation status.