The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed readiness to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government to improve health outcomes by working towards the elimination of illnesses.
The state coordinator of WHO, Oluwabukola Alawole stated this at a capacity training workshop for health managers in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital to ensure a strong health sector in the state
Represented by Ayakeme Ekpoudom, a medical doctor, it stated that a strong health sector was vital to the achievement of the universal health coverage where people would have access to efficient medical and healthcare services.
According to him, a comprehensive plan was equally important for health budgeting for the people while pledging the support of WHO to partnership with the state government to boost healthcare services.
Declaring the workshop open, the commissioner for health, Ekem Emmanuel John, a medical doctor, lauded Governor Umo Eno for the huge investment in the health sector which he said has resulted in the renovation of many health facilities in the state as well as the building of new health centres across the state.
The commissioner who was represented by Patrick Eshiet, a medical doctor and permanent secretary, Akwa Ibom State ministry of health disclosed that the new Ibom international hospital being planned by the state government would likely kick off before the end of the year.
He said it would be “an 8-floor modern and well-equipped medical facility for the tertiary level health needs of Akwa Ibom State and beyond.”
The commissioner, who stated that the approval and endorsement of the international hospital project was part of the decisions reached at the recently concluded town hall meeting on health attended by stakeholders in the health sector said the workshop was important to equip health workers with problem solving skills in the development of 2026 annual operational plan.
He solicited the support of partners in the achievement of the laudable objectives of the country’s health sector renewal investment initiative driven through healthcare sector wide approach (SWAP).
The workshop which focused on system thinking, problem solving strategies, operational planning for health sector blueprint as well as understanding the country’s health sector SWAP reforms was attended by healthcare managers from the 31 local governments, healthcare managers at the state level as well international partners.
