The Ekiti State government has inaugurated the State Health Data Consultative Committee as part of efforts to enhance health data management in the State.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Ado-Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani disclosed that the committee would ensure effective articulation and coordination of inputs from various data sources with a view to produce relevant, timely, up to date and accurate health data required by Government to take evidence based decisions.

Dr Filani who was represented at the inauguration by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun explained that the committee would also review data trends to identify gaps and improve reporting accuracy.

The Commissioner charged members of the committee to deliver on their mandates by collaborating with relevant offices and individuals for generation of timely and accurate data with integrity.

He explained that the State Health Data Consultative Committee would required for evidence based decisions.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics Ministry of Health, Dr Sunday Omoya said that the initiative was a step in the right direction as it will strengthen collaboration among health institutions, government agencies and relevant stakeholders.

Dr Omoya noted that Ekiti state has improved significantly in the quality and usage of data, explaining that the constitution of the committee would further ensure effective data collection and analysis for better healthcare planning.

In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi; General Managers of the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme and Drug Management Agency , Dr Charles Doherty and Pharm. Kolawole Olajide respectively, Executive Secretary SACA, Dr Dairo Ojo as well as the Secretary of the committee Mrs Olayemi Ojo noted that the process would guarantee improved resources allocation based on health indices and performance metrics.

They called on the data managers to deliver on the objectives of the team to boast of any data coming out from the state.

Members of the committee were drawn from both public and private health sectors and they include top government officials, Monitoring and evaluation officers from tertiary, secondary and primary health facilities as well as health development partners.