The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, on Thursday held a strategic meeting with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers from all 23 Local Government Areas to improve the state’s health data management systems.
The engagement focused on reviewing programme data for accuracy, timeliness, and completeness, identifying gaps in reporting, addressing challenges affecting data quality, and offering technical guidance to enhance data validation across health facilities. The session also sought to harmonise key indicators to strengthen the overall health information system.
Dr. Oreh noted that the discussions were shaped by the officers’ experiences and highlighted that many of the reported challenges cut across all LGAs. She praised the officers for their dedication and stressed the need for consistent, high-quality data to support effective health planning.
The Commissioner assured that recommendations from the meeting would be forwarded to the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, adding that health facilities would be held accountable for meeting data quality standards. She also hinted at possible incentives for facilities that deliver accurate and timely data.
Despite issues such as flooding in some communities, Dr. Oreh commended the officers for their resilience and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to working collaboratively with them to ensure better decision-making and improved health outcomes for residents of Rivers State.
