Gombe State has begun a four-day capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping health leaders and planners with the skills needed to craft a robust and responsive 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for the state’s health sector.
The event, which is taking place in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSHRII) Leadership, and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office, with the theme; ‘Towards a Rational, Realistic, Pragmatic, and Comprehensive Plan to Inform Health Budgeting for the People of Gombe State.’
Our correspondent reports that the workshop brings together key health stakeholders including programme managers, planners, and policymakers. Their task is to design an actionable roadmap that will guide health interventions, investments, and budgeting for the coming year.
Declaring the event open, Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, emphasised the importance of the workshop in translating policy into effective service delivery.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu, Dahiru said “This training is a step toward developing a practical roadmap that will guide the implementation of critical health programmes in the state.”
Continuing Dahiru added, “We are committed to ensuring full implementation of the 2026 AOP in order to improve the health and well-being of all Gombe residents.”
Dr Tolu Adeniji, National SWAp Facilitator and a public health consultant based in Abuja, described the workshop as part of a broader national strategy to strengthen health systems through coordinated and results-driven planning.
“This initiative stems from the NHSHRII and represents a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Presidency
“The goal is to foster harmonised planning, strategic implementation, and effective monitoring of health interventions across all levels of government,” Adeniji added.
He added that the training would also bolster the leadership and problem-solving capacity of participants to ensure the creation of resilient and sustainable health subsystems.
Dr Suraj Abdulkarim, the Gombe State SWAp Desk Officer and Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significance of the AOP in addressing the state’s specific health challenges.
“This operational plan will place strong emphasis on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, which remains a pressing concern considering Nigeria’s alarming share of 25 percent of global maternal deaths,” he noted.
He further pointed out that the plan would tackle workforce shortages by proposing incentives for healthcare workers assigned to rural areas and adopting strategic human resource interventions.
Abdulkarim added, “We are adopting a data-driven planning model that allows for accurate resource allocation and tracking of implementation.
“It’s not just about planning; it’s about ensuring delivery, measuring progress, and closing gaps.”
The four-day workshop is expected to conclude with a detailed and actionable operational plan that not only reflects national health priorities but is also tailored to meet the unique needs of the people of Gombe State.
