By Rebecca Caleb Maina
Health stakeholders in Gombe State have committed to strengthening accountability and evidence-based planning as the State Ministry of Health convened the 2025 Health Sector Joint Annual Review and Annual Operational Plan (AOP) dissemination meeting.
The state commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, described the review as both an accountability mechanism and a planning tool.
He explained that it provided an opportunity to measure achievements, ensure accountability, and prioritize activities with the greatest need for better results.
Looking ahead, he stressed that the 2026 AOP will give special attention to climate-resilient health planning, human resources for health, and strategies to sustain services amidst declining donor support.
He reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the health workforce and scaling up Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BeMONC) and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CeMONC) services to reduce maternal mortality.
Dr. Dahiru also expressed appreciation to development partners such as Jhpiego for their support, noting that the review goes beyond reporting to focus on re-prioritization.
The Gombe State SWAp Coordinator, Dr. Suraj Abdulkarim, said the 2025 AOP contained many activities, but the 2026 plan will deliberately focus on, high-impact interventions.
He added that the review placed strong emphasis on data-driven accountability, with stakeholders agreeing to analyze health data and make it publicly available to guide decision-making.
With the influx of people into Gombe, collaboration with other states, as made known by him, has become necessary.
One of the successes, he said, was the use of data for effective planning and showcase to Stakeholders for attention and response.
The review, held under the theme “Strengthening Accountability and Evidence-Based Planning through Joint Annual Review of the Health Sector Performance,” brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care coordinators, representatives of health agencies, and development partners like Jhpiego.
The forum served as a platform to evaluate the state’s health performance in 2025, identify gaps, and agree on strategies for the 2026 AOP.
Participants underscored the importance of domestic resource mobilization, political will, and stronger partnerships with both local and international organizations to ensure sustainability.
The meeting ended with a consensus that integrating health activities, strengthening partnerships, and mobilizing indigenous resources remain crucial to improving health indices in Gombe State.