Idris Tasks Sector Partners On Continuous Improvement Of Lagos Health System


Chioma Umeha

Dr. Jide Idris , Lagos State Commissioner for Health and others during the at the first General Assembly of the forum in 2019 in Lagos, recently.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris has tasked the Lagos State health sector development partners under the umbrella of the Lagos State Health Sector Development Partners’ Forum on continuous improvement of the State health system.
According to a press statement signed by Adeola Salako, Director, Public Affairs, Idris, Idris who spoke to stakeholders at the first General Assembly of the forum in 2019 noted that the forum which was inaugurated in year 2011 by the Ministry of Health was aimed at strengthening and coordinating partnerships for health as well as creating a viable platform that enables partners to harmonise all their activities and plans.
“The formation of the Health Sector Development Partners’ Forum was seen as critical to facilitate a coordinating system that would reduce transaction costs to development partners, donors and government by streamlining systems for delivering aid and standardising procedures.”
 “In addition, it would significantly help in reducing duplication and overlap of health activities being implemented by partners in the health sector while fostering synergy among the stakeholders, with the attendant enhancement of effective and efficient resource management,” the Commissioner said.
Idris explained that the General Assembly is one of the structures of the Health Sector Development Partners’ Forum and it provides the opportunity to share with a wider network of stakeholders, current plans and programs of the Ministry.
He stressed that the forum was informed by the realisation that significant challenges continue to confront the coordination of suppprts in the health sector  both in terms of interventions by different units and programs of the state Ministry of Health and its agencies on one hand and between the Ministry and other relevant government agencies and partners or donors on the other hand.
Idris added that the assembly holds twice a year and provides an avenue for discussion on key issues and is guided by a HSDPF strategy document outlining its purpose and specific objectives stressing that the coordinative framework also allows for a Steering/Executive Committee, General Assembly, Implementing Partners and the Technical Working Groups Committees.
“No doubt, some successes have been recorded as the integration of services is on the increase between program and service delivery units within the health sector but there is still more to be done in this regard”, the Commissioner said.
He pointed out that the strategic goal of the meeting was to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of partners’ assistance in the state and also look at current issues and challenges in the health sector with the aim of addressing it.
Idris urged partners to collaborate in the areas of the recently launched Lagos State Health Scheme, Resilient and Sustainable System for Health, Lagos State Biosecurity and Bio-containment project, Mental health programme and Task Shifting and Task Sharing policy.
He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various partners including WHO, UNFPA, FHI, Save the Children amongst others in the organizing the meeting as well as in procuring the services of consultants to facilitate the forum.

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