PREVENT EPIDEMIC (PE) PROJECT ORGANIZED AN ANNUAL HEALTH SECURITY POLICY AND FINANCING FORUM

The Prevent Epidemic (PE) project being implemented by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) with funding from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) to canvass for increased funding as well as stronger policy and institutional frameworks for health security in Nigeria, is being implemented at the national level, Kano and Lagos states.

It is in furtherance of the objective of improved domestic financing and building a stronger policy environment for health security through evidence-based advocacy, that the Prevent Epidemic (PE) project on the 8th of March 2022 organized a one-day annual health security and financing policy forum, to x-ray topical health security issues, elicit lessons learned, and recognize accomplished actors and institutions in the field of health security with the theme:

“Exemplary Health Security Policy and Financing reforms at the sub-national level”.

The forum had in attendance the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, the Chairman House committee on Health, Lagos State House of Assembly, representatives of the Hon. Minister of Health, WHO country Representative, representatives of the DG NCDC, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Donors and the Civil Society organizations as well as the media.

In his welcome address, the President of the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) Distinguish Senator Dr Lanre Tejuoso stated that, although some level of progress has been recorded in strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to adequately prevent and respond to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies, especially in terms of budgetary allocations at the central level, much still needs to be done particularly at the subnational level.

In another development, the Hon Commissioner for Health Lagos state, Prof Akin Abayomi emphasized the need for political buy-in as a way of securing a robust health security as well as private sector inclusion, policies and cooperation for improved health security generally.

The forum presented opportunities for stakeholders both at the national and sub-national to highlight their experiences on health security policy and financing interventions, accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned. It also brings to the fore the functions of the Nigerian Governors Forum Secretariat in terms of creating scorecard for health security and health sector generally.

The forum featured presentations and panel discussions. There were discussions on the need for the sub-national levels to put in place policy frameworks by conducting their Joint External Evaluation JEE which will lead to the domestication of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS).

Key highlights from the forum:
• It is very important for states to conduct JEE which will lead to the domestication of the NAPHS
• Evidence-based Advocacy can lead to the creation of budget line as it pertains to health security,
• Having a legal framework will help to improve health security
• Multi-sectoral and systemic approach is very important

Next steps:
• Strengthen the existing coordination among NCDC, NGF and other forums.
• Work with the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) to create scorecards to raise accountability bar for Health security

By Philip Akoso, (LISDEL)