From TCNEWS
The Federal Ministry of Health has concluded a four-day capacity development workshop for health managers, in a significant move to strengthen healthcare planning and service delivery in Abia State. The training, held from July 14 to 17, 2025, at Harriet Hotel and Suites in Umuahia, focused on equipping participants with skills for effective operational planning and budgeting ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.
Themed “Towards Rational, Realistic, Pragmatic, and Comprehensive Budget for the People of Abia State,” the event was part of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), a federal framework that promotes harmonized planning, budgeting, reporting, and implementation across Nigeria’s health sector.
Speaking during the event, the Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the training marked a crucial phase in the review and strategic design of the state’s Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for 2026.
“Planning is key to delivering efficient health services. We are not just building hospitals; we are building a system that ensures sustainable, high-quality healthcare for all citizens of Abia State,” Prof. Uche stated.
According to him, the plan aligns with the broader vision of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, to transform the health sector by prioritizing funding, workforce development, and accessibility to care, regardless of social or geographic barriers.
He added that the training would enable managers to develop data-driven, practical strategies that reinforce health sector gains made in 2025 and lay a solid foundation for future improvements. Prof. Uche also disclosed that the government is set to implement a newly approved salary structure for healthcare workers in the state.
However, he cautioned that strict accountability will follow, emphasizing that absenteeism and truancy among healthcare workers will no longer be tolerated.
“The era of laxity is over. Health workers must be present and committed. The government is ready to reward dedication, but also ready to sanction negligence,” he warned.
Supporting the commissioner’s remarks, Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Uma-Kalu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, said the seminar was aimed at building technical capacity to improve policy execution and safeguard public health.
“This training ensures that our planning is inclusive, our budgeting realistic, and our execution measurable,” Dr. Uma-Kalu noted.
The conference featured expert-led sessions and interactive group discussions facilitated by resource persons from the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners. Participants collaboratively developed frameworks that will inform the Ministry’s activities for 2026, guided by the principles of equity, efficiency, and impact.
The workshop highlights a proactive step by the Abia State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health to institutionalize long-term reforms in health financing and service delivery. As health systems globally push toward universal healthcare, this initiative underscores Abia’s commitment to building a robust, inclusive, and accountable healthcare system, one that empowers citizens and drives sustainable development.
The training climaxed with a shared commitment to deliver a health system that is people-centered, transparent, and performance-driven.
Attendees included key stakeholders such as: Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chiedoziem Egwuonwu, Executive Secretary, Abia State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu, Director-General, Abia State AIDS Control Agency (ABSACA), Dr. Princes Orieji Agomoah, Director of Public Health and Disease Control, and Dr. Okorie Onuka, SWAp Desk Officer
