Tackling the Challenge of Health Security – Kano State Drafts Legal Framework

The Prevent Epidemics Project is partnering with the Kano State Ministry of Health to domesticate the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and develop a legal framework for health security in the State. This mission is in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded Lafiya Programme and other key stakeholders. A workshop held for five days from November 23rd to 27th, 2020, with the objectives to have an overview of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and NAPHS; to have a situation analysis of Kano State in the context of the NAPHS; to adapt and domesticate the NAPHS for the state and develop a legal framework for health security in the state.

The objectives were accomplished through a critical analysis of existing materials, legal frameworks and systems in the State. An overview of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and the NAPHS documents were evaluated alongside the State’s health security situation in the context of the two documents. Participants identified and adopted 14 of the 19 key technical areas from the NAPHS, for the State. A comparison of the landscape for existing laws relating to health security was done against the current realities in the State and the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.

Discussions with legislators led to their request for a review of the State’s health sector budget to make room for the establishment of a functional public health reference laboratory. The legislators additionally committed to assuring members of the Executive Arm of Government that were present, that they would defend it when the budget is presented to them for appropriation.

The draft documents will be further subjected to comprehensive assessments to develop a proposed Bill and final draft Action Plan within the next two weeks.

The P.E Project purposes to strengthen health security architecture and health system capability to adequately prevent, prevent epidemics at the federal level and in Kano State, Nigeria. It is funded by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and implemented by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL)