Enugu adopts new strategy to streamline health sector budgeting

The Enugu State Government has embarked on developing Annual Operational Plans that would be integrated into the state’s 2026 health sector budget.

This initiative is part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a comprehensive program aimed at transforming Nigeria’s health system by improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding health insurance coverage.

Speaking at a Four-day training workshop on NHSRII Leadership and Health Systems Strengthening for Managers, which began on Monday in Enugu, the State Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Obi, said the NHSRII is a sector-wide programme that seeks to bring together every single player in the health sector under one coordinating umbrella to monitor the sector indices across the board.

The training is themed, “Towards Rational, Realistic, Pragmatic and Comprehensive Plan that informs Health Budget for the People of Enugu State”.

According to Obi, “Through the State-Wide Approach (SWAp) reform, the Federal Ministry of Health is trying to bring together every single player in the health sector under one coordinating umbrella to monitor the sector indices across board.”

He explained that the SWAp approach will give the country’s health sector one plan, monitoring and evaluation, and a coordinated network.

“This workshop is the beginning of the step down of a capacity building for master trainers who are involved in the entire health sector of Enugu State towards producing a one-sector annual operational plan that will be integrated into the 2026 health sector budget for Enugu State,” Obi added.

The participants in the training are made up of senior and programme managers, officials of different agencies, and health sector stakeholders in Enugu State.

Obi expects a high level of seriousness from the participants, as they work towards producing a comprehensive plan that will inform the state’s health budget.

Francisca Ewoh, SWAp Desk Officer, Enugu State, explained that the essence of SWAp programme is to ensure coordination and uniformity in the health system in Nigeria.

“What is happening in the health sector, unlike before, is no longer business as usual, whereby the partners come in with their own activities. SWAp wants to ensure that states prioritise activities based on evidence-based,” she said.

The Head of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ann Oguejioffor, said the training would streamline the state’s planning process towards the 2026 health sector budget.

“With the SWAp programme, the state is going to have one plan in the sense that what the partners are offering should not duplicate with what the state government is doing,” she added.

The development of Annual Operational Plans is expected to improve the state’s health sector by ensuring that all stakeholders work together towards a common goal.

It was learnt that the plan will also help to avoid fragmentation and duplication in the health system, and ensure that resources are allocated effectively.