By Haruna Gimba
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FmoH) has organised a three-day meeting with stakeholders to validate the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy (2023-2027).
The meeting organised by the FMoH had stakeholders including government institutions, development partners and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in attendance.
During the meeting, an overview of the draft RMNCAH+N strategy development process was presented by the FMoH to stakeholders in addition to the key components of the strategy.
The stakeholders worked intensively in groups to review and make inputs to the chapters of the draft RMNCAEH+N strategy.
The groups reported in plenary sessions presenting their changes and inputs to the document.
Stakeholders deliberated during the plenary sessions to reach consensus of the various reviews presented by the groups.
A key next step is consolidation of stakeholders’ inputs by FMoH and sharing of the document with stakeholders; graphic design and printing of the RMNCAEH+N strategy and then its official launch.
At the end of the meeting, the federal government pledge to increase and remain consistent on the allocation and release of RMNCAH+N budgets, in order to sustain progress towards improving health of women and children in Nigeria
The meeting harps on the CSOs and other stakeholders to work together to promote accountability and transparency of RMNCAH+N programme implementation in Nigeria
During the meeting, representative of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Mrs Maimuna Abdullahi, advocated for inclusion of young people, adolescents and CSOs in decision making process for RMNCAH+N programme planning
The AHBN advocated to the FMoH and stakeholders to hasten the completion of the 2023-2027 Nigeria RMNCAH+N strategy development process and to ensure it is published and launched.
