By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
Kwara State has held its first-ever Joint Annual Health Sector Review (JAR), a comprehensive assessment aimed at evaluating the state’s performance under the Federal Government’s Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) for healthcare delivery.
The review is part of the broader Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which seeks to reinforce political engagement, foster greater accountability, improve performance tracking, and ensure better monitoring of annual operational health plans.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, speaking at the event, affirmed the government’s resolve to improve maternal and child health indices and credited Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for consistently backing key reforms in the sector.
She noted that the administration had approved the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to encourage doctors to remain in the state’s health workforce. In addition, the government has expanded the drug distribution system to keep public pharmacies adequately stocked.
“From approving the revised CONMESS salary structure to retain our doctors, to strengthening our drug supply system so that public pharmacies are fully stocked, the Governor has proven to be a true champion of health for all Kwarans,” she said.
Dr El-Imam pointed to several flagship interventions including the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, nutrition initiatives supported by UNICEF involving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods, and the EU-backed SARAH programme focused on adolescent and reproductive health. She also cited the recently introduced Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) as a major stride.
She explained that these programmes reflect a clear move away from fragmented implementation toward a more unified, sector-wide model that brings together government, development partners, and civil society under a shared framework.
“This Sector Wide Approach means we are now aligning all actors—government, development partners, and civil society—under one plan, one budget, and one review. It’s a game changer, and this joint review embodies that commitment,” she said.
Dr El-Imam encouraged stakeholders to improve data collection and make information more accessible at the grassroots level to support more effective health planning and informed policy decisions.
Participants at the meeting included senior officials from the Ministry of Health and its agencies, health supervisors from local governments, programme leads, and representatives of health development partners.
