The Anambra State Government has restated its commitment to fully digitising the state’s healthcare system as part of reforms aimed at improving transparency and strengthening healthcare delivery.
Dr. Afam Obidike, the State Commissioner for Health, disclosed this during a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on the Health System Exemplar Analysis Project held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Gates Foundation, and Development Governance International Consult.
Addressing participants, Dr Obidike said the state government was determined to digitalise all aspects of healthcare administration and service delivery to enhance accountability, reduce leakages, and improve operational efficiency across health institutions.
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He noted that deploying digital health systems would strengthen data management, improve patient monitoring, support evidence-based decision-making, and ensure more efficient delivery of healthcare services to residents.
“The digitalisation of the health sector is critical to achieving transparency and eliminating corruption within the system. It will also improve patient care, healthcare planning, and effective monitoring of services across the state,” the commissioner said.
Dr Obidike also commended the healthcare reforms of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, describing them as transformative in repositioning the state’s health sector.
The commissioner further stated that the government would continue to prioritise investments in nutrition, maternal and child health, disease prevention, and other critical healthcare interventions aimed at improving public health outcomes.
He explained that the workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to identify gaps within the healthcare system and develop practical, evidence-driven solutions capable of strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
The engagement brought together policymakers, development partners, health experts, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for improving the health system and documenting reforms and interventions implemented in Anambra State between 2013 and 2023.
Discussions at the workshop focused on introducing the Nigeria Health System Exemplar Analysis for Action Project to state-level stakeholders while outlining the study’s objectives, methodology, and implementation framework.
Speaking earlier, the State Lead of Development Governance International Consult, Uchenna Ezenwaka, said the project was designed to evaluate and document factors responsible for improved health system performance in Nigeria.
According to him, the study would assess reforms, policies, interventions, and implementation strategies that contributed to measurable progress in healthcare delivery over the years.
He stressed the importance of reliable data and institutional collaboration for the successful execution of the project, urging stakeholders to support the process by providing access to relevant records and documentation.
Participants also examined factors that contributed to improved health outcomes in Anambra State, including policy reforms, strategic partnerships, workforce development, and collaborative interventions that enhanced healthcare services.
Another major focus of the engagement was the identification of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as key officials expected to provide data and institutional information required for the study.
Stakeholders further discussed modalities for data collection, coordination mechanisms, and action plans necessary to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
The workshop highlighted the commitment of both federal and state governments, alongside development partners, to promoting evidence-based healthcare policies and sustainable health sector reforms in Nigeria.
