The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), has commended Lagos, Gombe and Ondo for the creation of family health departments in their states, for the implementation of family health programmes.
It also urged other states Commissioners to replicate the same structure in their respective states as approved by the previous National Council of Health (NCH).
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this in Abuja, at the National Advocacy meeting with Health Commissioners for states.
The advocacy is in tune with Reproductive; Maternal, New Born, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition multi-Stakeholders Partnership Coordinator Platform (RMNCAEH+N), Focal States and Inauguration of the National Adolescent Health and Development Technical Working Group.
Ehanire in his Keynote address observed that three states have made progress in better coordination and service delivery, compared to states, yet to establish the structure that was crucial to ensuring effective delivery of RMNCAEH + N services.
Ehanire said in line with the government’s commitments to strengthen structures at sub-national levels, it is advocating and making efforts to strengthen coordination of RMNCAEH+N nationwide, focusing on 16 carefully selected states, based on criteria such as the burden of RMNCAEH+N mortality and morbidity, Partner support and geographical spread.
“This is necessary at this critical time in our history, as we make the efforts to reverse the unacceptably high burden of Maternal, Newborn and Child mortality.
“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of essential services and negatively impacted our economy and national development. The health of women, children and adolescents is sadly worst impacted by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“About a year ago precisely on Oct. 12, 2020, we launched the RMNCAEH+N MSPCP, the purpose of which is to improve coordination, strengthen the partnership and enhance accountability to achieve effective technical delivery and maximize outcomes,” the minister explained.
He added that since the launch, the ministry has made modest progress in the development and launch of the annual operational plan 2021.
“Efforts have started in implementation of RMNCAEH+N AOP at the national level, in partnership with NPHCDA and other implementing partners.
“Progress has been made towards improving coordination within government structures, namely National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Health Insurance Scheme and NAFDAC. This is in addition to strengthening program based technical working groups”.
Ehanire further added that the Federal Ministry of Health was resolute in ensuring access to quality health to Nigerians, including vulnerable groups.
“Adolescents make up a significant proportion (22%) of the population of Nigeria. The National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 shows that Maternal Mortality Ratio is 512 per 100,000 live births and adolescent contributes 40% to these deaths”.
He noted that moving forward, the Ministry would reposition the TWG and formally inaugurate it for better performance.
“The National Adolescent Health and Development Technical working group would provide technical guidance to the FMOH towards implementation of Adolescent Health and Development (AHD)Policy to improve health and wellbeing of adolescent and young people in Nigeria”.
The Lead Coordinator and Technical Advisor Universal Health Coverage/Life Course Cluster of the World Health Organization(WHO), Dr Claudia Vivas, congratulated Nigeria on its milestone achieved so far on the implementation of the RMMCAEH+N one year operation plan towards achieving the mandate of the RMNCAEH+ N Multistakeholder partnership.
Vivas further explained that the responsibility to deliver on the Global Commitments lays with the Governments, however, Government alone cannot achieve it and as such needs the support of partners.
“Viva said: “as we work together towards the reduction of the unacceptably high mortality rate of these vulnerable groups, the WHO, as the global leader in health has a core mandate to strengthen coordination, provide guidance, frameworks and tools to help Governments provide the enabling policy environment, quality and affordable services to all its citizens irrespective of where they live or work”.
Vivas further said that a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach was indeed needed, and confirmed that WHO and the entire UN System would continue to Partner with the Government and Future Assured Teams to secure the future of Women, Youths and Children for National Development in Nigeria.
Viva admonished all stakeholders to ensure cost-effectiveness and financial efficiency and guarantee value for money.
“We have the responsibility to ensure that our health system is responsive to health needs across the life course while enshrining sustainable health financing, gender considerations and protection of human rights.
“Now is the time to harness available domestic resources from all sectors however, to ensure their judicious use and ensure strong leadership to coordinate our responses and ensure there is transparency and accountability,” she advised.
“Let me reiterate that WHO’s Triple Billion Goal is our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing, keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable, to achieve Universal Health Coverage and ensure that No one is left behind.
“Although the world has been faced with many challenges, our vision of a world in which all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being has not changed”.
The Founder and Executive Director
Stand With A Girl Initiative, Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, said that FMOH had ensured meaningfully participation of youth in programming and should continue to ensure their participation in implementation, monitoring and evaluation and accountability.
Adegbola stressed that young people were not the problem rather they were the solutions and partners in the development of the country.
“We need to do more in creating a world that ensures adolescents transition successfully into adulthood and build a future in which every young person no matter where they are, whether with disabilities or not are able to realise their full potentials”.
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