Health officials in Anambra have completed a four-day training to improve healthcare planning.
The workshop focused on teamwork, resource use, and better health delivery across all sectors.
In a bid to strengthen healthcare delivery across Anambra State, the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NSRII), has concluded a four-day intensive capacity development workshop aimed at health leaders and managers from all 21 Local Government Areas in the state.
The training, which ran from July 15 to July 18 in Awka, focused on the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) to leadership, health systems strengthening, and coordinated planning. It brought together a wide spectrum of participants, including officers from primary healthcare, state health insurance schemes, health education units, and both tertiary and secondary health sectors.
Speaking during the workshop, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, emphasized the importance of aligning health activities across various departments under a unified annual operational plan. He noted that the goal of the program was not only to build capacity among health workers but also to ensure that every planned activity for the coming year fits into an overarching strategy to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
“We have representatives from all programs and departments primary healthcare, insurance, health education, and even those handling tertiary and secondary health services. They are all here to review what we’ve done this year and to plan together for the next,” Dr. Obidike said. “The key is alignment. We want to avoid a situation where different units are doing things in isolation. That kind of segregation leads to inefficiency and waste.”
He added that the workshop was also designed to enhance the efficiency of program implementation and to ensure that resources are properly utilized. “When ideas and programs are well-aligned, the result is better coordination, reduced duplication, and lower costs,” the commissioner explained.
According to Dr. Obidike, the broader objective of the workshop was to prepare health sector stakeholders to remain focused on the operational plan, allowing for consistent progress across all healthcare activities. “It’s about reviewing the past and planning for the future, but more importantly, doing it as one united system,” he said.
Dr. Obianuju Okoye, the Desk Officer for the Sector-Wide Approach in Anambra, also provided further insight into the purpose of the training. She explained that the SWAP program is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health that is currently being implemented in all 36 states of the federation.
“This training is taking place across the country, and the aim is simple: we want to have one plan, one budget, and one unified conversation for the health sector nationwide,” Dr. Okoye said. “Each state has its own priority areas, but the idea is that we should all be speaking the same language of development so that we can move forward as a country.”
Dr. Okoye praised the commitment shown by participants throughout the workshop and expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would reshape how health programs are executed in Anambra going forward. “The skills and strategies shared here will not only boost morale but also help health workers understand their roles more clearly. It will definitely redefine their approach to service delivery in the months ahead.”
Overall, the workshop was well-received by attendees, many of whom expressed appreciation for the collaborative planning approach. The event marked another significant step in the effort to streamline public health administration in Anambra, enhance service delivery, and ensure more effective use of available resources.
