LISDEL Joins the Federal Ministry of Health, Others to Review the National Strategy on RMNCAEH-N QOC

The National Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Elderly Health and Nutrition Quality of Care (RMNCAEH+N QoC) Strategy, focuses on improving quality across the spectrum of the health care system from prevention to palliative care, as they relate with RMNCAEH+N; with the aim to consistently ensure and improve the outcomes of clinical care, patient safety and patient-centeredness while increasing access and equity of health for all Nigeria Population.

In order to support and reinforce the Federal Government’s effort in improving and delivering a better quality of care for Maternal Newborn and Child Healthcare, a meeting of Stakeholders (Jhpiego, Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL), Nest 360, Save the Children and Institute for Health Improvement (IHI) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health – with Jhpiego providing overall leadership and oversight of all activities), was held on the 28^th of February 2023, at the Federal Ministry of Health’s conference room, Abuja.

The meeting was to review the draft strategy and make provisions for stakeholders to make necessary inputs to the strategy towards its validation and subsequently, its launching and implementation.

The Country Lead Jhpiego, Dr Oniyire Adetiloye, gave a brief history of the project which began in 2017, its milestones and areas of intervention which were Leadership, Action, Learning and Accountability with community, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria. It has since, following WHO’s guidelines facilitated and expanded its interventions in other public health areas within the Country.

She appreciated the concerted efforts of the Government, the Federal Ministry of Health, CSOs and other actors working together to actualize the improvement of Quality of Care and its are delivery and reception in facilities.

The Director, Department of Family Health, Dr Boladale Alonge, in her opening remark appreciated the contributions of technical partners, stakeholders and the Ministry, and supporting to hold the one-day meeting to review the strategic policy document. She noted that the implementation of the policy is key to the success and the delivery of better quality of care for Maternal Newborn and Child Healthcare under the RMNCAEH-N programme.

She admonished all hands to be on deck, stating that this is the time to do things differently for better results to improve RMNCAEH-N indices, as it is evident that the Quality of Care in health facilities are poor. She emphasized that the strategic document cuts across all the priority areas of RMNCAEH+N. She further noted that the policy is developed according to WHO guidelines, hence its alignment with international standards.

She additional commended USAID, MCGL and others for providing technical support to enable the development of the draft National Strategy, which when fully revised and validated will become a reference for national and community service of healthcare practice.

The Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) joined the Federal Ministry of Health and other technical partners to review the Draft National Strategy. LISDEL currently implements the Strengthening Government Partnerships and Advocacy in PHC Optimization (SPAG) PROJECT in Nigeria a primary target of improving RMNCAE-N outcomes towards optimizing primary healthcare in the country.

By Eruemolor A | LISDEL

Juliana Abude-Aribo | Editor | LISDEL