PRIMARY HEALTHCARE BOSS ADMONISHES MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICERS ON DATA QUALITY
By Nnedinma Okeke
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Obianuju Chinelo Okoye had on May 20, 2026 admonished Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers on accuracy of quality of data generated from healthcare facilities across the State.
Dr Okoye made the admonition during a courtesy visit from representatives of the ASPHCDA Local Government Areas (LGAs) M&E Officers at the ASPHCDA office complex, Awka. She explained that it is important to ensure only accurate data is uploaded in the system, as the M&E Officers were engine room of the Agency being the office that generates data for the Primary Healthcare sector.
“From data generated, Partners or Stakeholders can veiw and have knowledge of what is happening in the State’s Primary Healthcare. It is data that can tell how many maternal deaths or malnourished children we have in Anambra State. Data speaks for every State, so giving data as it is, will benefit the State.
“When you report an accurate data, one can easily indicate where the problem is and then proffer solution to it, but when the data is not accurate, it does not show a true picture of what is happening in the system and as such, one cannot pinpoint where the problem is or proffer its solution.
“For example, where there are five maternal deaths, and the data reported is not accurate, the State nor Partners will not be able to know where the problem truly lies. Inaccurate data does not enable one gets the complete solution and help in areas it is needed,” She emphasized.
The Executive Secretary, then, stressed that data was a very important tool in aiding the Agency and State move forward. She appealed that during data reportage, the M&Es being closer to the healthcare workers, should always comfirm accuracy of unclear data before it gets to the State or National levels.
The ASPHCDA State M&E Officer, Mrs Ozioma Aligo who led the team, noted that the aim of the official visit was to officially welcome and congratulate the Executive Secretary on her new Office while pledging their loyalty and support to her administration.
Ogubaru LGA M&E, Mrs Geradine Muoghalu who also is the Chairman of the 21 LGAs M&Es assured that the M&Es would give their best in discharge of their duties. She thanked the Executive Secretary for her admonitions, and promised that they would also, always do their best in ensuring accuracy in data reporting.
She, then, prayed that the Executive Secretary would have a fruitful stay in office with God’s strength and wisdom to carry out and accomplish tasks thereby leading the Primary Healthcare sector and State to greater heights.
The visit also had in attendance; M&E Dunukofia LGA – Mrs Cordelia Ekwutosi Nwadiogbu and M&E Oyi LGA – Mrs Mercy O. Onyeka.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.