The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has trained health leaders and managers in Abuja on developing a smart, budget-linked, and data-driven Annual Operational Plan.

The four-day training, which concluded on Saturday in Abuja, was conducted under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and focused on strengthening health system planning capacity development.

Adedolapo Fasawe, the mandate secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, said that the training marks a significant milestone toward the development of a data-driven and smart budget-linked 2026 AOP.

This, according to Ms Fasawe, will align with the FCT budget and enable administration to draw down on available funds from the Disbursement-Linked Indicators.

She explained that more than 70 senior health officials, programme managers, and planning officers from the FCT, area councils, development agencies, and implementing partners participated in the four-day step-down training.

She described the training as a “bold step” toward strengthening health systems and the development of a budget-linked AOP that would align with government priorities, enabling donors and development partners to key in.

Ms Fasawe specifically urged development and implementing partners to align their plans and funding with the priorities and initiatives outlined in the FCT Health Sector Strategic Blueprint and AOP.

Additionally, Teresa Nwachukwu, the acting director of health planning, research, and statistics, stated that the training was funded and facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Ms Nwachuckwu, who is also the FCT SWAp Desk Officer, added that the training was conducted through the NHSRII and the Sector-Wide Approach’s coordinating office. 

She added that the training, designed to address the capacity gap among health managers and leaders across the country, would enhance the necessary skills for the development of the 2026 AOP from the HSSB.

(NAN)