By Asma’u Ahmad
A coalition Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from national and subnational coalitions have met in Kaduna for a 2-day retreat, where they reviewed Nigeria’s RMNCAH+N (GFF) Investment case.
The meeting focused on what the Investment Case priorities are, the gaps and developed advocacy messages and tools to engage national and sub-national leaders.
The meeting was facilitated by the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), which comprises the Community and Health Research Initiative (CHR), Nigeria GFF CSOs Working Group, National Advocates for Health (NA4H), Nigeria Youths Champions for Universal Health Coverage (NYC4UHC), Niger State Coalition on MNCH and Representative of GFF CSOs working group in Abia State.
In a communique issued to newsmen after the meeting, the coalition said based on the review of the interventions proposed by the GFF Investment Case, the they observed that not all states of the federation are covered and not all RMNCAH+N services in the Minimum Package of Activities (MPA) are addressed.
“Also, nutrition services are not specified just as the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) pertinent to RMNCAH+N barely address the problems.
“The expected result on Reproductive Maternal Neonatal and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) which projected modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) target of 43% by 2021 need to be reviewed, as the set target of about 200% is unrealistic. The reasons being that mCPR percentage has barely gone beyond 11% consistently over the years coupled with dwindling financial resources and the fact that Nigeria is not fully financing family planning,” the communique stated.
The coalition therefore recommended that there is, “There is a need for pragmatic and a high absorption capacity in ensuring efficient financing of the Investment Case through improved Budgetary Allocation to Health and political will to make the Basic Health Care Provision Fund a statutory transfers as a means of securing the fund.
“In addition, there is need to leverage on other platforms to generate additional Funding for the BHCPF. The Nigeria health financing strategy should be costed to complement the RMNCAH+N investment case.”
The coalition added that there should be an inclusive stakeholder’s consultation to provide a framework that will ensure efficient utilization of the Basic Health Care Provisional Funds (BHCPF), through the involvement of Civil Society Organizations, private sector, business community under Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
“There is a need for an expanded coverage of all the interventions across all the 36 states and FCT, broadening of the Minimum Package of Activities and include comprehensive HIV services in the reproductive health services.
“Government should established youth friendly centres, including comprehensive family planning package, not just the use of contraceptives, as well as holistic services for people with special needs.”
