The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has emphasized that the integration of the Performance Management System (PMS) in the healthcare sector will not only save lives but also enhance the well-being of Nigerians, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
Professor Pate made this assertion during the commencement of the 2024 Ministerial Leadership Retreat On Performance Management Systems organized by the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, which took place in Bauchi State recently.
In his address to participants and stakeholders from various Agencies and Parastatals of the Ministry nationwide, Professor Pate underscored the significance of implementing PMS to ensure a more effective health system for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The introduction of the new Performance Management System (PMS) by the Federal Government greatly complements our ongoing efforts towards healthcare sector reforms.
This system offers a robust framework that ensures all health MDAs focus and align their resources – human, material, financial, and more – towards achieving the strategic goals and objectives of the Health Sector,” the Coordinating Minister elucidated.
In line with this, Professor Pate affirmed that the Ministry took a pivotal decision to execute its Health Sector Strategic Blueprint through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative utilizing a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
He emphasized that the SWAp initiative highlighted the Ministry’s deliberate strategy for effective coordination of resources to attain desired objectives for the Health sector.
“This approach aims to address existing deficiencies in health financing and resource coordination, guaranteeing that sector-wide resources from federal and state governments, as well as development partners, are well-coordinated and channeled towards bridging priority gaps,” the Coordinating Minister expounded.
“The Retreat signifies the culmination of all performance planning activities facilitated by the Department of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics (DPHRS), ensuring that all Health Sector MDAs are adequately prepared for the quality implementation of government priorities and sector initiatives,” the Coordinating Minister emphasized.
Officially inaugurating the retreat, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Honourable Muhammad Auwal Jatau, commended the efforts of stakeholders in the health sector such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, USAID, and Global Fund for their unwavering support in fortifying the health sector.
He hailed the retreat as a testament to the Federal Government’s dedication to enhancing healthcare in the country.
Expressing pleasure at the selection of Bauchi State for the PMS retreat, the Executive Governor took the opportunity to apprise participants of the strides made by his administration in providing physical infrastructure for quality healthcare and recruiting 3000 health workers to tackle the challenge of staff shortages in the State.
In her earlier remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom mni, characterized the PMS as more than a mere tool for evaluating performance.
She affirmed that it is a crucial mechanism for enhancing governance, fostering transparency, and ensuring that every employee within the Ministry is fully engaged in the collective objective of service delivery.
“As we progress with this retreat, I am confident that our discussions and deliberations will bolster our determination to construct a high-performing health sector,” the Permanent Secretary added.
