Friday 22 July 2016

Reps pledge adequate oversight on child and family health budget


Group photo of PACFaH partners during the visit to the Chairman Committee Healthcare Services (4th from left)  at National Assembly, Abuja

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Chike John Okafor has said his Committee would establish constructive collaborate with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) to work out the modality for effective oversight on the child and family health component of the 2016 budget.

The Chairman made this known during advocacy visit to the Committee by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) under the aegis of PACFaH.

He described as paramount to child and family health in the country, the four issues—family planning, nutrition, routine immunisation and childhood killer diseases, of PACFaH, stating that the Committee will give them deserved attention through adequate oversight to ensure timely release and judicious utilisation of their related fund as appropriated in the budget.

Speaking during the visit, Project Director, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP)-PACFaH, Mrs. Chinwe Onumonu explained that a woman’s ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy.


In the submission to the Committee, she noted: “Women constitute a large proportion of this population. 2006 census estimates that there are about 68 million females in Nigeria; out of this, 30 million are of reproductive age (15-49 years). About 6 million of this population becomes pregnant each year with about 5 million resulting to child births.


“576 women out of every 100,000 live births, die as a result of these pregnancies and childbirths. This figure translates to 111 women and young girls dying daily or 5 women every hour. Up to 30% of these are deaths can be prevented by increasing access to and uptake of contraceptives.”

While the country records 16% unmet need for family planning, Mrs. Onumonu lamented that contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) has remained the same at 10%, for the past 10 years with a marked difference between the urban and rural areas (17% and 6%), stating that the low level of contraceptive use contributes to Nigeria’s poor maternal and child health status and accounts for the high total fertility rate of almost six children per woman and the high population growth rate of 3.18% negatively impacting on the high total fertility rate of almost six children per woman and the high population growth rate of 3.18%.

“We are graciously asking you as a law maker to use your power of scrutiny and oversight to support the fulfilment of the Nigeria government commitment to: the National Health Act (2014) stipulation to allocate 1% of the consolidated revenue fund for the purpose of basic healthcare provision fund; London Commitment of achieving a contraceptive prevalence rate of 36% by 2018 to enhance maternal and child survival.

“Specifically, use your oversight function to ensure that the budget for FP in this 2016 is released timely and used for the purpose it is meant; and ensure that the 2017 budget provides adequately for operationalization of the Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint,” she added.


On Childhood Killer Diseases, the Program Director stated that in Nigeria, pneumonia and diarrhoea remain major killers of children under 5 years, accounting for about 400,000 preventable deaths, annually.


She said: “While an estimated 6.7 million cases of childhood pneumonia are reported annually, Nigeria reportedly has the second largest burden of the disease after India which has about ten times Nigeria population. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are estimated to constitute 16% and 19% respectively of all causes of death in children below the age of 5.”

Mrs. Onomonu urged the Committee to ensure that specific budget lines are created for the procurement of the drugs (Amoxicillin DT for Pneumonia; and Zinc-LO-ORS for Diarrhoea) in the 2017 Health budget; and the procurement of the aforementioned drugs (Amoxicillin DT and Zinc-LO-ORS) is included in the possible supplementary Health‎ Budget for 2016.


Also, the program Manager, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Chioma Kanu, urged the Committee on prompt oversight to ensure fulfilment of various commitments by government under existing counterpart arrangements to adequately fund child and family health in the country.


As part of submission to the Committee she explained that as Nigeria graduates from GAVI support by 2022, the legislature should consider supporting the executives to ensure sustainability in the funding for routine immunisation to avert resurgence of polio virus.


While speaking on nutrition, the Program Manager recounted that malnutrition among women and children remains a major challenge to health and human development of any country.  “Malnourished children have an increased risk of disability and premature death and are highly predisposed to infectious diseases. Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of malnutrition in Africa and globally. We urge this Committee on effective oversight to ensure adequate provision and approve funding for nutrition, create budget line for nutrition in the annual budget with adequate oversight on nutrition budget,” she urged.




Reps pledge adequate oversight on child and family health budget

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Chike John Okafor has said his Committee would establish constructive collaborate with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) to work out the modality for effective oversight on the child and family health component of the 2016 budget.

The Chairman made this known during advocacy visit to the Committee by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) under the aegis of PACFaH.

He described as paramount to child and family health in the country, the four issues—family planning, nutrition, routine immunisation and childhood killer diseases, of PACFaH, stating that the Committee will give them deserved attention through adequate oversight to ensure timely release and judicious utilisation of their related fund as appropriated in the budget.

Speaking during the visit, Project Director, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP)-PACFaH, Mrs. Chinwe Onumonu explained that a woman’s ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy.


In the submission to the Committee, she noted: “Women constitute a large proportion of this population. 2006 census estimates that there are about 68 million females in Nigeria; out of this, 30 million are of reproductive age (15-49 years). About 6 million of this population becomes pregnant each year with about 5 million resulting to child births.


“576 women out of every 100,000 live births, die as a result of these pregnancies and childbirths. This figure translates to 111 women and young girls dying daily or 5 women every hour. Up to 30% of these are deaths can be prevented by increasing access to and uptake of contraceptives.”

While the country records 16% unmet need for family planning, Mrs. Onumonu lamented that contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) has remained the same at 10%, for the past 10 years with a marked difference between the urban and rural areas (17% and 6%), stating that the low level of contraceptive use contributes to Nigeria’s poor maternal and child health status and accounts for the high total fertility rate of almost six children per woman and the high population growth rate of 3.18% negatively impacting on the high total fertility rate of almost six children per woman and the high population growth rate of 3.18%.

“We are graciously asking you as a law maker to use your power of scrutiny and oversight to support the fulfilment of the Nigeria government commitment to: the National Health Act (2014) stipulation to allocate 1% of the consolidated revenue fund for the purpose of basic healthcare provision fund; London Commitment of achieving a contraceptive prevalence rate of 36% by 2018 to enhance maternal and child survival.

“Specifically, use your oversight function to ensure that the budget for FP in this 2016 is released timely and used for the purpose it is meant; and ensure that the 2017 budget provides adequately for operationalization of the Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint,” she added.


On Childhood Killer Diseases, the Program Director stated that in Nigeria, pneumonia and diarrhoea remain major killers of children under 5 years, accounting for about 400,000 preventable deaths, annually.


She said: “While an estimated 6.7 million cases of childhood pneumonia are reported annually, Nigeria reportedly has the second largest burden of the disease after India which has about ten times Nigeria population. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are estimated to constitute 16% and 19% respectively of all causes of death in children below the age of 5.”

Mrs. Onomonu urged the Committee to ensure that specific budget lines are created for the procurement of the drugs (Amoxicillin DT for Pneumonia; and Zinc-LO-ORS for Diarrhoea) in the 2017 Health budget; and the procurement of the aforementioned drugs (Amoxicillin DT and Zinc-LO-ORS) is included in the possible supplementary Health‎ Budget for 2016.


Also, the program Manager, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Chioma Kanu, urged the Committee on prompt oversight to ensure fulfilment of various commitments by government under existing counterpart arrangements to adequately fund child and family health in the country.


As part of submission to the Committee she explained that as Nigeria graduates from GAVI support by 2022, the legislature should consider supporting the executives to ensure sustainability in the funding for routine immunisation to avert resurgence of polio virus.


While speaking on nutrition, the Program Manager recounted that malnutrition among women and children remains a major challenge to health and human development of any country.  “Malnourished children have an increased risk of disability and premature death and are highly predisposed to infectious diseases. Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of malnutrition in Africa and globally. We urge this Committee on effective oversight to ensure adequate provision and approve funding for nutrition, create budget line for nutrition in the annual budget with adequate oversight on nutrition budget,” she urged.




Sunday 17 July 2016

PACFaH Commends Kano State Government for releasing additional N50m for Immunization

Gov. Ganduje

Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) under the aegis of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) has commended Kano State Government for releasing additional N50 million to its immunization basket funding.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the Executive Governor of Kano State recently released additional N50m to the state's Routine Immunization Basket funding making the funds released by the state for its immunization activities N100m out of N250m it is expected to contribute this year as part of the counterpart funding agreement for immunization in a memorandum of understanding it signed with Mr. Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

This MoU agreement and funding commitment to Immunization financing is targeted at helping the state to sustain its current polio-free status as Nigeria progresses in its final lap of polio eradication and increased coverage of immunization activities.

CHR Project Director Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba who commended the state for its commitment towards ensuring it is able to meet up with the financial requirement from the state said the release covers 40% percent of the RI funding commitment made by the state in January and is expected to release the remaining funds (N150m) which is about 60% of the state’s commitment in the MoU it signed with the philanthropists before the end of the year.

While commending the Kano State government, CHR under the auspices of PACFaH implores the state actors and stakeholders to ensure accountable and transparent utilization of the funds to achieve adequate routine Immunization program implementation and coverage.

“if the funds are spent transparently with focus on the reasons why they are released Kano state will be able to support Nigeria to remain a polio free nation and also strengthen the final push for eradication as well as ensure all immunization activities are fully funded in the state”  said Aminu Magashi

This success in attributive to CHR/PACFaH continuous advocacy to the state for improved funding of its child and family health programs and provision of technical support to the state as well as participation in high level Routine Immunization Financing and Technical Working Groups meetings.

PACFaH commends Bauchi as it meets its 75% Immunization Funding Obligation

Gov. Abubakar

Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) under the aegis of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) has commended Bauchi State government for the release of N40 million to the State Routine Immunization basket fund.

CHR-PACFaH Program Manager Ibrahim Wunti said the state government’s renewed commitment towards health development is also commendable as it has so far released N120 million which is 75% of N164 million it appropriated for its immunization activities in 2016 budget.

Wunti who monitored progress in immunization financing and programs in the state during a midyear review of a signed Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen RI in Bauchi state between the state, Bill Gates and Dangote, on behalf of PACFaH reports that the state has not witnessed any new case of Wild Polio Virus or transmission since the last three years.

The Bauchi State Government under the leadership of Barr. M. A. Abubakar released additional N40 million to the state Routine Immunization basket funding and reiterated his commitment to sustain the progress on polio eradication and immunization activities in the state during the review meeting.

This new release is the second tranche of funds being released this year by the state as part of its commitment towards sustaining the state’s polio-free status and improved immunization activities, as Nigeria progresses towards attaining its polio eradication status.

The mid-year review which was done through a video conference with Mr. Gates, Mr. Dangote, US Ambassador to Nigeria, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Executive Director Dr. Ado Muhammad, the Bauchi State governor said despite the current economic down tune in the country, his administration remains committed to equitable health care financing and focused to protect the lives of mothers and children through the implementation of Primary Health Care under-one-roof.

 He further announced that his administration has constructed additional 19 Health Centers across the state in partnership with the SDGs.

In her opening remarks the Commissioner for Health Dr Halima Mukaddas presented the state achievements from January to June 2016 based on the key milestones in the state which covers amongst many the roll out of a financial management tool at all levels with accountability measurement in the state health system and engagement of traditional rulers for improved demand creation for immunization services.

She however identified a challenge with the quality of data collected as she called for more critical intervention to address the gap