By Asma’u Ahmad
The Federal Government on Wednesday approved the sum of N6.01 trillion for the National Strategic Health Development Plan II.
The Minister of Health, Proffesor Isaac Adewole, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council’s meeting chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, the new plan which covers 2018 to 2022, involves the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Prof. Isaac Adewole
“The Council today considered a memo from the Federal Ministry of Health on the National Strategic Health Development Plan II, covering the period 2018 – 2022. “We had the previous Plan I which covered the period 2010 – 2015. The Plan I had 52 targets but regrettably we were only able to achieve less than two from the 52 targets.
“So, we spent a long time trying to put in place the Second Plan, so it took us about two years to get this second plan done. “It involves all states of the federation, it includes the Federal Capital Territory and our development partners participated in the presentation and the approval of the Plan,’’ he said.
The minister revealed that the Plan was approved at the National Council of Health’s meeting that took place in Kano on June 21. He explained that the plan had five strategic pillars and 15 priority areas, saying the five pillars included enabling environment for attainment of health sector goals and increased utilisation of essential package of health services.
Others are strengthening the health system and protection from health emergencies as well as health financing. “In total, this new plan has 15 thematic areas, 48 strategic objectives and 282 interventions that will help us to really improve the healthcare delivery that will offer our people.
“What is important is the stakeholder and strong health sector wide participation of states in the presentation. We went through a five-stage process. “The states went to develop their plans. The federal developed ours. We came together, harmonised all the plans and we brought everybody together to validate and adopt the plan and then moved on to Kano for implementation.
“The entire projects meant for over five years will cost us over N6.071 trillion and we believe that if this funding is done, if the plans are implemented faithfully, we will achieve a 31 per cent reduction in maternal mortality. “We will achieve 33 percent reduction in horizontal mortality and we will achieve fewer than five percent mortality reduction of 29 per cent.
Adewole announced that the plan would be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) and Governors’ Forum to secure the buy-in of the governors so that the plan could be faithfully implemented. He, therefore, expressed optimism that the plan would usher Nigeria into a new era.
On the reported outbreak of cholera in some parts of the Northern states, the minister said his ministry was collaborating with the affected states in addressing the epidemic. He further stated that Nigeria in partnership with some African countries is working toward the eradication of cholera in the continent.
