Governor reviews half-year health performance, targets 80% budget implementation

• Governor reviews half-year health performance, targets 80% budget implementation

  The Kano State Government has commenced a two-day Joint Annual Review (JAR) and 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Mid-Year Review to assess the performance of the health sector in the first half of the year and develop strategies for improving service delivery in the remaining quarters.Maps

SolaceBase reports the review, organised by the Kano State Ministry of Health under the Nigeria Healthcare Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), brought together development partners, health experts and government to evaluate progress across key health programmes, including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, immunisation, malaria control and health logistics management.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the exercise was designed to measure the state’s achievements against the targets outlined in its 2026 Annual Operational Plan.Health

He explained that the review would examine the health sector’s performance during the first and second quarters, identify gaps and determine the factors responsible for unmet targets, with the findings expected to guide interventions for the remaining half of the year.Financial Planning & Management

“We had a baseline, what we call the Annual Operational Plan. We now look back and see what happened in the first and second quarter, what we have achieved, what is left and why.

“That will inform us of the right decisions to take in the third and fourth quarters so as to make sure that our budget performance at the end of the year is at least 80 per cent,” he said.Strategic Planning

The commissioner noted that the presence of development partners would enrich the review process and strengthen collective efforts toward improving healthcare outcomes across the state.

According to him, participants would assess performance in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, immunisation, malaria control, the Logistics Management Unit and other critical health indicators that reflect the overall state of healthcare delivery in Kano.Government

Dr Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far in the state’s health programmes and appealed to residents to continue supporting government initiatives aimed at improving access to quality healthcare.

“Our message to the public is for them to show us more understanding, pray for the government and accept whatever programmes we come up with during the year and even beyond,” he said.Newspapers

He added that the government’s interventions are primarily targeted at vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children under the age of five, with the objective of reducing preventable illnesses and improving their quality of life.

The commissioner also expressed optimism that the review would produce practical recommendations for the second half of the year.

“Almost all the partners are here. My expectation is that, Insha Allah, at the end, we are going to come up with a very good review and plan for the remaining two quarters of the year,” he said.Medical Facilities & Services

SolaceBase also gathered that the two-day review is being held with the support and collaboration of several development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, NHS RHI, Sanhof, Lafiya UK & Nigeria Partnership for a Healthier Future, IMPACT Coverage and Transforming Services, International Budget Partnership Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative and SiD Synergy Integrated Development.