By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
IBADAN – In a strategic move to harmonize grassroots health data with state policy, the Primary Health Care Management and Support Centre (PriHEMAC) has initiated high-level talks with the Oyo State Ministry of Health.
The advocacy team, led by Executive Director Dr. Martins Ogundeji, met with the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) on March 26, 2026, to solidify a partnership focused on the Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) project.
Dr. Ogundeji while Addressing the Department on behalf of the team,detailed the CLM project’s mission: gathering granular, community-level data on the “Big Three” infectious diseases—HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM).
“Our goal is simple but critical,” Dr. Ogundeji stated. “By integrating our community-level findings with the state’s existing data systems, we can ensure that service delivery improvements are driven by the actual realities on the ground.”
The Executive Director emphasized that PriHEMAC is not seeking to operate in a vacuum but rather to “strengthen collaboration” by participating in state data review meetings and research engagements.
Adding weight to the advocacy, the ACOMIN (ATM) State Coordinator, Pastor Adio Olusegun, underscored the vital role of the Global Fund and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in bridging the gap between government policy and public health outcomes.
He however called for the Department’s support in streamlining data management protocols to ensure PriHEMAC’s findings are both accessible and actionable for state planners.
Representing the Director of the DPRS, the Deputy Director, Mrs. Olugbemide Abimbola, welcomed the initiative but maintained a firm stance on institutional standards.
However, she requested an official approval letter from the Honourable Commissioner for Health to provide the necessary institutional backing for the partnership.
In a prompt response, PriHEMAC Program Officer Folasade Akintola confirmed that an introductory letter had already been submitted to the Commissioner’s office through the Director of Public Health.
She assured the Ministry that a duplicate would be provided to the DPRS immediately to expedite the collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to ensuring that no data—and no patient—is left behind in the state’s fight against HIV, TB, and Malaria.
