Gombe ministry inaugurates State Data Consultative Committee
The Gombe State Ministry of Health has inaugurated the State Data Consultative Committee for harmonised health data.
Inaugurating the committee at the conference hall of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary Alhaji Danladi Adamu, said the output of the committee will help in planning and execution of programmes for improved health care services in Gombe.
He said the committee which is the replica of the National Data Consultative Committee is also aimed at achieving the Universal Health Coverage and enhanced best practices in the heath sector
Adamu who is to chair the committee on behalf of the Commissioner for health said the health sector is data driven hence, membership cut across all relevant stakeholders to include the Budget Planning and Partner Coordination office, traditional institution, Statistician General, National Population Commission, Traditional Rulers,Civil Society Organisations, World Health Organisation, Technical Directors from the Ministry of health amongst others.
He called for synergy amongst members to achieve the set goals of the committee.
Also Speaking, Permanent Secretary Budget, Planning and Partner Coordination Office Alhaji Abubakar Dauda Gadam, who is also a member of the committee said data is critical in decision making and planning.
According to him, data gives direction as to the provision of basic amenities that will meet the people’s needs.
Also, Alhaji Yahaya Hammari, who is the representative of the traditional institution in the committee lauded the formation of the committee hoping it would keep records of health issues such as births and deaths which were hitherto not properly documented.
On his part, the Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Suraj Abdulkarim, in a presentation said the National Health Data Consultative Committee was founded to act as an avenue for the provision of feedback on health data management in the country.
He added that it is also a forum for the dissemination of information and exchange of experiences among stakeholders in the health as well as other relevant sectors .
Suraj explained that such committee be established in the states hence, the inauguration of the committee at the state level to strengthen health data and promote data management governance and utilisation in the state
He said the terms of reference of the committee are to develop a mechanism for polling researches, across different government agencies and partners, which will be used for financing the state health information system Health Information System and to ensure the incorporation of findings from the HIS into decision making.
Other terms of reference according to Dr Suraj is to ensure best practices are adhered to in the deployment of different applications for managing different components of health data state as well as deliberate on any other emerging issues on HIS in the state and to create an avenue for Coordination of health data related activities in the state.
He said the committee is also expected to routinely review the monitoring and evaluation system of the state identifying challenges and recommend corrective actions and enhance data quality management with emphasis on improving state reporting rate.
Meanwhile, the Maternal and Newborn Emergency Transport scheme has been inaugurated.
Confirming this development during an interview with PERISCOPE NIGERIA, the Director Community and Family Health, Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Maryam Abubakar, said the scheme will be looking out for pregnant women that have complications to take them to the facility.
According to Abubakar, volunteers would be made available to take them to the nearest health facility for prompt attention. She said children below five years who have complications are also beneficiaries of the scheme and will be conducted in five local government areas
The five local government areas are Balanga, Kwami, Dukku, Kaltungo and Yamaltu Deba.
