State2State Project: Akwa Ibom State Government lauds USAID on project implementation
Akwa Ibom government has applauded the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding the State2State project being implemented by 360 Health System Development Initiative (360 HSDI) in 28 health facilities across seven local government in the state.
The Executive Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), Dr Eno Attah made the commendation Tuesday during a stakeholders engagement meeting and dialogue session to improve AKSPHCDA M&E System which took place in Uyo.
Attah gave kudos to 360 HSDI, which she described as a dependable implementing partner, which has help the health care service delivery at the grassroots especially in data management.
She pledged government continue commitment to ensuring the development of the health sector through improvement of the primary health care system in the state.
The Executive Secretary, disclosed that AKSPHCDA which is just four years old, has enjoyed the support of the state government and partners like 360 HSDI with funding from USAID.
Attah said “whatever support we get from partners at pilot level, we would ensure that they are extended to alll other health facilities in the state””
Commenting on the stakeholders engagement meeting, the Executive Secretary said it has help to review the work done in the past and ensure gaps noticed were covered for more effective service delivery.
The representative of the country director, Dr Christine Obioha, said the essence of the engagement was to showcase and highlight some of the challenges observed when they went through the M&E visits, proffer recommendations for stakeholders to take ownership and ensure sustainability of the project.
Obioha expressed satisfaction over the meeting and lauded the government and stakeholders for their collaborative efforts in strengthening the health care system in the state.
Speaking on brief introduction of 360 HSDI/purpose and object of the meeting, the Project Manager, Mr Oboma Eteng, said their mandate on the State2State project is to strengthen the M&E system in the 28 supported health facilities in seven local government areas of the state.
Eteng, who mentioned the implementing Local Government Areas to include, Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Itu, Obot Akara, Onna, Ikono and Oron, said 360 HSDI also seeks to improve women’s participation in primary health care utilization.
He said the purpose and objective of the meeting include, to review the remediation plan and discuss challenges in carrying out the proposed plan and develop a new plan for resolving the issues identified from the earlier conducted M&E assessment and set new timeline for each action point.
Others are: brainstorm on how to sustain or improve the strength identified in the M&E system and identity sustainability among strategies among others.pteng, who disclosed that the project has 5 years timeline, said “another reason for the meeting is to tell the stakeholders that beyond the timeline they can take ownership, continue in the foot print that we have come to lay, so that the gain of the project can be sustained after now”
The meeting featured, review of remediation plan from first stakeholder’s meeting, deliberation of remediation and formation of new plan, harmonization of agreements and adoption of sustainability strategies.
Goodwill messages were received from the director of DPRS, Lawrence Obot, the assistant director, budget office, Mr Ekwere Essiet and Dr George Ekanem of the ministry of health, who all lauded USAID and the implementing partner for the good work done in the health sector of the state.
In their seperate responses, the M&E champion in AKSPHCDA, Mrs Favour Nsidebe and the M&E officers for Ikono local government area, Mrs Hannah Paul, thanked USAID for funding the project appreciated 360 HSDI for being of great support to the the health facilities in the state in providing enhanced service delivery through quality data management.
