Abuja, 02 2017 - Nigeria is   fast-tracking achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the development of the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDPII) by Federal and States’ Ministries of Health, in collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders. 

The NSHDPII’s major thrust is to ensure the Nigerian populace have universal access to comprehensive, appropriate, affordable quality essential health care through revitalization of Primary Health Care.

In 2005, the World Health Assembly Resolution 58:33, urged countries to develop strategies that will ensure all people have access to needed healthcare services without the risk of financial ruin at the point of accessing care or after accessing care. As United Nations member state, Nigeria is signatory to the post 2015 UHC agenda and health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Receiving the preliminary findings of a Joint Assessment of National Strategies(JANS) of the NSHDPII from a team of experts on 01 June 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole underscored the credibility of the independent assessment. 

To ensure quality assurance, guarantee stakeholder confidence and encourage wider commitment to the NSHDPII by all stakeholders, JANS was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and membership comprised health sector partners including civil society organizations (CSOs).

The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Clement Uwaifo assured the JANS team that the FMOH would critically study the findings, especially areas of weaknesses identified, close residual gaps and revert accordingly, “as this is the building block of Nigeria’s health policy”.

He thanked World Health Organization (WHO) for facilitating the process by providing full funding and technical expertise in terms of articulating the concept and being instrumental in getting other partners to buy into the JANS process. 

Earlier in a presentation on behalf of JANS, Dr Moses Ongom, of WHO noted  that preliminary findings from JANS indicate the following strengths: inclusion of high-impact cost effective interventions ,mechanisms for quality of data management and governance as well as  detailed monitoring and evaluation plan that addresses the results of the NSHDPII .

JANS however pointed among others, a weak gender and equity analysis, limited engagement of non-health ministries, the private sector and faith based professional associations. In addition, budgetary framework showed weakness in terms of cost distribution, funding projections and gap analysis by level of care. 

 Looking ahead, JANS recommended that issues raised by JANS can be addressed immediately or through a plan of action, which involves revision of the strategy, further engagement with stakeholders and development of action plan/steps to address issues raised during the first annual operational plan of the NSHDPII.  

Membership for JANS included United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population fund (UNFPA), World Bank, Global Affairs Canada, Health Finance and Governance, Department for International Development and CSO representative.

Technical contact-

Dr Moses Ongom; Email: ongomm [at] who.int (ongomm[at]who[dot]int); Phone: +234 706 2177 646