Like many other low income countries, the health care sector in Nigeria is characterised by constant reforms aimed at the efficient delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality care which may impede the state government capacities to effectively provide the required health care services without proper leadership and coordination.
To strengthen implementation and service delivery in the health sector, HSCL through the Global Fund (GF) Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) project supported Oyo state in developing and implementing integrated work plans that address these health systems challenges by adopting an innovative approach- the establishment of a Health Leaders Coordination Platform (HELCoP).
The main objective for establishing the HELCoP was to bring together health sector leaders from across the State’s health landscape to voice their concern and demonstrate leadership on the impact of policies for service delivery and policy formulation. The process of establishing the HELCoP, therefore, involved bringing together leaders from multiple MDAs for a formal inauguration by the Honourable Commissioner for Health. Based on defined Terms of Reference (TOR), the group was tasked with the overarching responsibility of employing innovative approaches to managing emerging issues in the health sector, as well as improving existing initiatives for effective service delivery. The approach also encourages the MDAs to recognize the importance of all actors in the state health system and to value them as assets that can be leveraged for supporting improvements.
The members of the platform are; the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Health (SA Health), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Director General, State Primary Health Care Board, Director, Health Planning, Research and 
Statistics (DHPRS), Director Public Health, Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme (OYSHIA), Global Fund RSSH Focal Person, Director, Admin and Supply, Ministry of Health, Director, Medical Services (HMB), Director, Laboratory Services (HMB), Director, Nursing Services (HMB), Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Director of Finance and Accounts, Ministry of Health, Director, Ministry of Environment., Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Honourable Commissioner for Budget.
The platform has started coordinating its activities ensuring competent management and leadership while navigating the sector through the complex web of interacting factors and reforms for effective and efficient health care delivery. The first quarterly meeting for the HELCOP was held in June 2020 where the Annual Operation Planning (AOP), emerging issues in the health sector, and various interventions were discussed. Thus far, these interventions have improved the coordination performance of health providers and the future will improve the general state of the health care sector.
One of the engagements of HELCOP is involved in is the dissemination and operationalization of the State Strategic Development Plan II (SSHDPII), HELCOP is dedicated to the implementation, smooth running and follow up on the next steps of this Project. HELCoP is on its way to implementing sustainable solutions to health system challenges tailored to their state context and HSCL will continue to support its endeavours during the course of this project.
