FG Launches Multi-Stakeholder Platform to Curb Health Challenges
AREWA AGENDA – The Federal Government of Nigeria has through the Ministry of Health launched a multi-sectoral initiative to tackle issues around Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH +N) in Nigeria.
The platform, named: The Nigeria Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent and Elderly
Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Coordination Platform, was unveiled Monday at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, FCT, Abuja.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed that this is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage with regards to the health of families in Nigeria and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals three and five respectively.
“From experience, we recognize that partnership for cooperation and collaboration is key, and that coordination of efforts can be a challenge; but the past partnership for IMNCH at lower levels has now evolved to this high-level platform which we are launching today. We have learned from the past and are now well equipped & emboldened to forge ahead.
“Since the launch of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) strategy in 2007, the National MNCH Partnership (PMNCH), has been coordinated by the Core Technical Committee (CTC), leading to the establishment of the technical working groups for each programmatic area in the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH +N) spectrum.
“I am pleased to say that all the technical working groups have been established and are functioning smoothly. However, gaps exist in achieving the overall coordination of RMNCAEH+N in Nigeria. The emergence of new issues around gender, public health emergencies and, most recently, covid-19 pandemic, with attendant limitations in providing access to equitable quality RMNCAEH+N services, have become an areas of concern for global health and security.” The minister said.
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He stated that the motto of the platform, “partnering for the wellbeing of women, children, adolescents, and the elderly,” encapsulates the core values that drive Universal Health Coverage, with the aim of leaving no one behind. He equally expresses optimism that the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari towards improving the health of the vulnerable populace, would be realized with the birth of this platform.
Reacting, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Services Management Dr Fauziyya Buba Idris expressed her total Support to Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH +N)
Dr Fauziyya disclosed this while briefing Newmen on the just concluded Nigeria Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition multi stockholders partnership coordination Platform lunched by Dr Osagie Ehanire Hon Minister of health held in Abuja Nigeria.
The Special Adviser said lessons learned from the Covid 19 Pandemic are being utilized to strengthen the state health system and reposition it for more resilience.
She then, emphisized that investment in the health sector and wellbeing of women children Adolescent and the health of elderly is a worthwhile and will support the overall socio economic development of our dear country, since the health indices of a country relate with the health of women and children.
Dr Fauziyya commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration for the modest progress toward improvement of child survival and safe motherhood through provision of ready use therapeutic food and availability of free family planning services to women of Reproductive age among other things.
Also speaking, Musa Abdullahi Sufi, a health development practitioner and Kano state Program Coordinator, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) said, “This is a welcome development in the history of improving Nigeria’s health sector. As TCI, we are going to integrate our High Impact Initiatives’ (HIIs) approaches towards achieving this goal and you would even be surprised to know that already, the HIIs has sufficiently served in supporting government, communities and families towards ensuring access to quality care; particularly, Family planning which is key to saving lives of mothers, newborns and improved quality of life for families through quality health and education.
Partnerships and integration is key to achieving successful and sustainable driven initiatives. This is really a great platform to take Nigeria’s health sector to the highest level” He said.
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