DECLARATION OF ACTION AFTER A 2-DAY BUDGET TRACKING TRAINING FOR MEDIA CHAMPIONS IN CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH ORGANISED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERSHIP FOR ADVOCACY IN CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH (PACFaH) HELD AT KINI COUNTRY HOTEL, NASARAWA STATE ON 22ND AND 23RD AUGUST, 2016

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) held a 2-day Budget Tracking Training for Media Champions in Child and Family Health. The training held at Kini Country Hotel, Akwanga Nasarawa state on 22^nd and 23^rd August, 2016 was attended by 12 media champions working in child and family health. The session aimed to bring reputable media champions advocating for, and demanding accountability in child and family health across focal states, under one roof for a training on prioritizing and amplifying child and family health issues—Nutrition, Routine Immunisation, Family Planning and management of childhood killer diseases, in the forefront of the media coverage and reportage. After exhaustive deliberations on various thematic issues, we the participants:

Recognise Media remains an essential tool to amplify issues in child and family health in effective, acceptable and credible manners.

Also recognise the linkage and integration among child and family health issues such as Nutrition, Routine Immunisation, Family Planning and Treatment of childhood killer diseases.

Express concern over less priority accords child and family health in the country; and will access accurate, authoritative and reliable sources to inform our advocacy to the relevant stakeholders to promote child and family health at all levels.

Also express worry over lack of political will to fulfilling various commitments to child and family health such as adequate and sustainable funding for routine immunisation which remains paramount to ensure appropriate vaccination, reduce rising deaths of children under-5 and avert resurgence of polio virus; effective implementation of National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) to prevent high burden of malnutrition at all levels; adoption and effective implementation of: National Blue Print on Family Planning to avert preventable maternal deaths; and recommended guidelines (such as Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablets and Zinc/Lo-ORS) as first line treatment of pneumonia and diarrhoea by the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities (UNCoLSC) to prevent the death of children under-5

Note that immediate shortage of funding and inadequate budgetary provision for vaccine procurement has dampened efforts at interrupting polio virus transmission in Nigeria; poor political and leadership commitment to ensuring adequate accessibility to Contraceptive Commodities results in wastages of procured commodities and maternal deaths.

Also note Prompt implementation of the National Health Act 2014 is imperative to achieve adequate, affordable, reliable, accessible healthcare system at all levels.

Further note that accurate and effective reportage through appropriate fact-findings, reliable sources and certified authority are primarily to effectively advocate for adequate child and family health in the country.

Affirm that administrative bottlenecks and rigorous protocols are inherent challenges confronting timely release and judicious utilisation of allocated funds to the health care services.

Commit to build synergy and formidable force to constructively demand accountability in child and family health through information sharing, investigative journalism, evidence based and lobby-free advocacy at all levels.

Also commit to adopt policy and grassroots re-orientation advocacy reporting child and family health issues through persistent human-angle reporting

Will give desired attention and adopt due diligence tracking, monitoring and reporting health budgetary allocation, release and utilisation through creative communication, simplified and analytical approach.

Shall effectively engage investigative journalism to interrogate health budgetary processes to promote judicious utilisation of funds through the jointly established platform—Media Champions in Child and Family Health of Nigeria (MeCCFaHN).

Will support the ongoing lobby-free advocacy by Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) in the country

Polio: Kaduna urges parents to observe compulsory vaccination

Gov. El-Rufa'i

All parents have been urged to help make Polio Immunization Campaign a success by presenting all their children below the age of five available for immunization, stressing that vaccination is compulsory.

This was contained in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, spokesperson to Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, announcing the commencement of a new round of polio vaccination in the 23 local government areas in the state. The campaign reflects the government’s determination to ensure that no child is exposed to the hazards of a disease that can be prevented, and which has been eradicated in most of the world. 

Aruwan said that Malam Nasir El-Rufai himself chairs the Kaduna State Taskforce on Polio Eradication Initiative and Routine Immunization. At its meeting last week, the task force reiterated that children must be protected from the severe consequences of non-immunization.

He noted: “The polio task force believes that most parents would easily appreciate the need to vaccinate their children. However, the public interest to protect children against avoidable health threats has led to a decision to make polio vaccination compulsory.

“The state cannot tolerate a situation where the laxity or levity of some parents may expose children to a bleak future. Parents and government must cooperate in guaranteeing good health for children in Kaduna State. The threat from polio is so severe that we must treat it as an emergency. All parents/guardians in the state must ensure that their children/wards are available for immunization. IMMUNIZATION IN THE STATE IS COMPULSORY, NOT OPTIONAL.

“Every parent has a duty to protect children from avoidable diseases, so that nothing hinders their chances for a better life and the realization of their full potentials. Voluntary compliance and cooperation with health officials is expected from all parents.

“The Government of Kaduna State wishes to clarify that any parent found obstructing health workers from carrying out their statutory functions will be prosecuted accordingly as prescribed by the law.

 “The government has further directed that all eligible children in transit within Kaduna State be made available for immunization at all transit sites (motor parks, road blocks, railway stations, airports etc.) during the period of the campaign. Teams of vaccinators will work with FRSC and NDLEA officials at partial roadblocks to vaccinate children below five who are in transit on highways within Kaduna State.

“The Kaduna State Government wishes to commend parents and guardians, and religious and traditional institutions for their overwhelming support for previous immunization campaigns. Their continued cooperation in the effort to eradicate polio in the state is deeply appreciated as a most worthwhile investment in the future of our children.”