By Faridat Salifu
The Kogi State Ministry of Health has convened its 2025 second quarterly performance dialogue to assess health sector progress and strengthen evidence-based planning.
The meeting, held on Monday, August 11, 2025, in Lokoja, was supported by MSI Nigerian Reproductive Choices.
It brought together health officers from all levels of government, health facilities, donor agencies, and civil society organisations.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Adeiza Abdulazeez, said reliable data is essential for designing effective healthcare interventions in the state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Steven Momoh, Abdulazeez said data quality directly impacts service delivery, resource allocation, and patient outcomes.
He highlighted gains in health system strengthening and service delivery, but stressed the need for continuous improvement.
The commissioner urged stakeholders to generate actionable recommendations that will enhance public health and patient care.
Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Desk Officer, Dr Emmanuel Bola Jonah, said the dialogue enables performance tracking on key health indicators.
Jonah said these include immunisation coverage, delivery rates, maternal and child mortality, family planning uptake, nutrition, and management of hypertension and diabetes.
He noted that the state recently trained health managers on operational planning to align with people-centred healthcare strategies.
Participants also discussed ways to use data and technology to improve monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes.
Development partners including WHO, UNICEF, and the Federal Ministry of Health commended Kogi’s efforts to improve its health indices.
They pledged continued collaboration to support the state’s goal of better healthcare outcomes for all residents.
