Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) is awarded a $1.1m contract by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support advocacy to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Primary Health Care under One Roof (PHCUOR) implementation.
NHED Country Director, Dr Emmanuel Sokpo (2nd right) discussing an important point
The project commenced November, 2016, and as a part of the inception phase, NHED team paid a courtesy visit to the NGF as a familiarization process to discuss vital issues relating to the role of NHED and NGF in the implementation. It was also to discuss the processes that is to be adopted that will best fit the operations of NGF in order to achieve the overall objective of the project.
Chairman NHED discussing with the DG, NGF
NHED Team was led by the Chairman, Dr. Shehu Sule who is also the Senior PHC Advocate, who briefed the audience about the project and the expected outcomes. The project he said is to use the NGF platform to strengthen the commitment of the Nigerian Governors in the implementation of Primary Health Care under One Roof (PHCUOR) in line with the National Health Act (NHAct) to provide an integrated PHC system that enhances better Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) outcomes.
NHED Chairman, Dr Sule Shehu and the DG, NGF Mr A.B. Okauro
The project will work collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA) to generate evidence -based information for the NGF secretariat to effectively engage and advocate with the governors. In order to achieve this, a technical assistance to the NGF for day-to-day support and effective coordination of its activities and other BMGF initiatives will be embedded in the project.
Consequently, the Director General of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum Mr.A B Okauru, appreciated the NHED team for the visit and also elucidated on the need for such a project at a time like this when the Nigeria health care system is in dire need of regeneration. He assures NHED of the NGF secretariat’s support and commitment to ensure the project succeeds by meeting its core objectives. However, the DG highlighted the need to properly understand some clauses in the contract.
In Conclusion, The Country Director of NHED, Dr. Emmanuel Sokpo, who is also the Senior PHC Governance Technical Expert, thanked the NGF Secretariat team for their happy reception accorded the NHED team and expressed hope of that this project will provide opportunities for further partnership between the NGF and NHED beyond the BMGF project.
