The Sokoto State Ministry of Health has commenced a two-day validation meeting on the Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA) report as part of efforts to strengthen evidence-based health workforce planning and improve healthcare service delivery across the state.

Declaring the meeting open at the Sokoto Guest Inn, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, expressed appreciation to development partners and relevant stakeholders for their technical expertise, support, and active participation in the HLMA process.

The Commissioner described the Health Labour Market Analysis as a critical tool that provides a comprehensive understanding of the state’s health workforce.

He noted that the validation exercise marks another significant milestone in the development of the health sector in Sokoto State.

He explained that the exercise would provide authentic and reliable data on the health workforce, identify existing gaps, and support informed decision-making for effective health workforce planning and management.

He further stated that the analysis indicates Sokoto State has adequate personnel across various health cadres in its health facilities, while emphasising the importance of continuous workforce assessment.

Dr Abubakar reaffirmed that health development remains one of the Nine-Point Smart Agenda of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr Ahmed Aliyu.

He urged participants to make meaningful contributions toward a successful outcome of the validation meeting.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni, appreciated all stakeholders and development partners for supporting the initiative.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the health system through evidence-based planning.

Representatives of the Global Fund and the Federal Ministry of Health commended the Sokoto State Government for its strong collaboration and commitment to the HLMA project.

They particularly praised the Honourable Commissioner for Health for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of the health sector in the state.

They also applauded Sokoto State for emerging as the best-performing state among the six pilot states implementing the Health Labour Market Analysis.

They expressed optimism that the validation exercise would produce more authentic and reliable workforce data for effective planning.

Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Alhaji Bashiru Bello, highlighted the objectives of the meeting.

These include reviewing the HLMA report, validating data across health workforce needs, demand, supply, and financing domains, reconciling identified data gaps, building stakeholder consensus on the health labour market, and agreeing on next steps and timelines.

The expected outcomes of the two-day validation meeting include: a validated HLMA report for Sokoto State, documented stakeholder corrections and inputs, consensus endorsement of key findings, and an agreed timeline for subsequent actions to strengthen health workforce planning and management in the state.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser, SSPHDA, Dr. Mohamed Bello Marnona; Special Adviser, SOCHEMA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Special Adviser, SOSACA, Dr. Sada Ibrahim Durbawa; Executive Director, Health Services Management Board, Dr. Bello Abubakar Attahiru; Directors of the Ministry of Health and its agencies; representatives of development partners; and other relevant stakeholders.

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