By Chris Chikelue/Azuka Nnabuife A 3-Day Technical Workshop on Joint Annual Review (JAR) for Anambra State Health Sector has been held to review the healthcare distribution in the state in the period of 2024 to the first and second quarters of 2025. The event co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health and the State Ministry of Health was aimed at reviewing the state of Anambra State Health data, moving towards the single source of truth-approach and opportunities for improving the administrative data and ensuring better performance measurements for the health sector. Declaring the event open, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, commended the state government for the rehabilitation of the state Healthcare facilities and the employment of health workers to boost healthcare delivery around the state. The Permanent Secretary advised that the State Health Insurance Scheme be taken seriously so as to save more lives of the people of the state. In her opening speech the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Edith Nwachukwu enumerated the specific objectives of the meeting as: to review health survey, routine and administrative data, to assess progress towards Anambra state health goals and objectives. Others are, to identify areas for improvement and resource allocation, to foster collaboration among healthcare stakeholders and to inform policy decisions and resource allocation. She welcomed participants and urged them to give their best in concentrating in the topics and deliberations of the programme. The three-day affair introduced various facilitators who touched on different topics such as: a Sector Wide Approach (SWAP)-highlight and progress on key SWAP priorities and indicators in Anambra State. The 2024 and first and second quarter of 2025 health budget performance and status of the 2025 Annual Operational Plan and next step. “Anambra State Situation analysis on Health outcomes/Score card; Routine report on the state health outcomes on key performance indicators and disease burden.’’ The meeting also presented opportunities for discussions, questions and answers also the presentation of key resolutions/priorities in focus ahead for the next Joint Annual Review meeting.
