By Lengmi Joshua Lumi
In a move to transform Nigeria’s health sector, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has launched a strategic capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening leadership, health systems, and planning through the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Speaking at the start of the event, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, Plateau State Commissioner for Health, emphasized the importance of strategic leadership and capacity building in strengthening healthcare delivery and commended health professionals and stakeholders for their dedication despite ongoing challenges.
Dr. Ba’amlong highlighted pressures facing the health sector, including pandemics, workforce shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, but noted that collaborative efforts and effective leadership can drive meaningful change.
He stressed that capacity building goes beyond traditional training, describing it as a means to develop adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable systems, adding that “our goal is to build a resilient health system that meets the evolving community needs of our people.”
Dr. Ba’amlong encouraged active participation at the workshop, urging participants to contribute experiences and ideas to shape a unified path forward. “Let’s make the most of our time together and leave here better equipped to lead,” he stated.
Earlier on, the World Health Organization’s State Coordinator, Dr. Musa Mahdi Wade, in a welcome address, emphasized the importance of the training, which, he stated, was to equip key officers with knowledge and tools for robust data-driven planning and expressed optimism that the aim of the training would be achieved.
In a presentation, Dr. Mworinabene Sunwar, SWAp Coordinator, Plateau State, emphasized that the 2026 fiscal year will be a pivotal period for implementing the HOPE project and consolidating key health reforms.
She acknowledged that reforms take time, and stressed the urgent need for a shift in strategy, grounded in rational, realistic, pragmatic, and comprehensive annual operational plans (AOPs) that align with the health budget and national priorities.
Dr. Sunwar noted that despite last year’s gains, where all states and the FCT successfully produced AOPs, major capacity gaps still exist, especially in institutional planning, timely budgeting, data use, and monitoring.
This year’s approach, she disclosed, will integrate top-down and bottom-up processes with a renewed focus on performance management, service delivery execution, and evidence-based planning.
She urged participants to take ownership, master planning tools, and support performance reviews at all levels, adding that the FMOH, through the HOPE Project, will incentivize and support states to ensure the fidelity of implementation.
The National Facilitator, Mrs. Sarah Pemida, Deputy Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, FMOH & SW, presented an overview of the Web-based Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Tool.
She highlighted its role in translating strategic health policies into actionable interventions and its features, including real-time planning, costing, and progress tracking.
The AOP Tool, she said, also enables collaboration between stakeholders and secures centralized data with controlled access, which facilitates effective planning and implementation of health programs.
Dr. Kefas Ibrahim, Public Physician, emphasized that effective problem-solving in healthcare requires a strategic approach, focusing on identifying and analyzing root causes rather than just reacting to visible issues.
According to him, by utilizing diagnostic tools like the five Whys, Problem Tree, and Fishbone Diagram, healthcare professionals can generate and implement applicable solutions, driving desired outcomes and improving healthcare systems.
The Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Program, as explained by Mr. Benjamin Daniel Shankom aims to drive health sector reforms by pooling resources towards key priorities, and that the Maternal and Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) focuses on reducing maternal mortality by addressing delays in care.
In separate goodwill messages, Mr. Adebiyi Ajayi, Lead Facilitator for Problem Solving at Training of Trainers Session in Abuja and ICT Representative, Christian Health Association of Nigeria, Mr. Jugo Benjamin Leke, encouraged participants to be attentive and engaged, emphasizing that achieving “one plan, one budget, one report, and one conversation” in healthcare would lead to improved outcomes and ultimately save lives.
During the training, there was a hands-on session and practical demonstrations on the AOP Tool, utilizing problem-based learning scenarios and collective learning from health systems and systems thinking.
The event climaxed with a pre- and post-test assessment to evaluate participants’ understanding of the training, ensuring they could effectively apply their knowledge and cascade their experiences to achieve better outcomes in their respective roles.
Taking place at the Fox Hotel in Jos, Plateau State, the four-day capacity development workshop will feature discussions on workforce development, service delivery improvement, data utilization, and innovation support.