HERFON Blog

Dear Esteemed Change Agents, Benefactors and Friends,

We join the generality of Nigerians in celebrating Nigeria’s historic first-ever civilian to civilian transition through a democratic process. We congratulate Nigeria’s former President HE Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR and his successor HE Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua, GCFR; and indeed all Nigerians world over. We wish the country well.

1. POST ‘NHC2006’ POST-GENERAL ELECTIONS ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES: STRATEGIC WORKSHOP HELD FOR STATE CHAMPIONS

An interactive atmosphere pervaded during the presentation of the output and recommendations of the last National Health Conference (NHC2006) to State Champions and Zonal Coordinators of HERFON in Abuja, on 24 May 2007. The discussions were frank and open, enabling all the issues involved to be extensively reviewed and discussed. Suggestions were made on how to tackle the key problems on the ‘frontline’ and promote effective Health Sector Reform in the States. 28 State Champions and Zonal Coordinators participated.
In furtherance to the recommendations of the workshop:
a) Each State Chapter leadership should URGENTLY email/forward its comprehensive membership list/details (names, positions/affiliations, telephone numbers and emails) as at 24 May 2006 to the Secretariat. Please send a confirmatory list even if you have sent a list previously. The deadline for the receipt of the membership details at the Secretariat is 07 June 2007. This list is needed for immediate entry into HERFON’s database
b) Each State Chapter should develop its Advocacy Package and email same to the Secretariat by 14 June 2007. This is extremely important in order to factor the activities into the current organisational budget

2. REVIEW OF HERFON’S STRATEGIC AND BUSINESS PLANS (SBPs)

Most of the consultations on this process outlined in our last message to you, have been concluded.

As part of this process, the consultants met with the HERFON’s Board of trustees, Zonal Coordinators, all State Champions divided into four centres in Kano, Abuja, Lagos and Enugu., HERFON Management, DFID, Pathfinder, Society for Family Health and ENHANSE/USAID.

The consultants’ first draft report is expected to be presented to representatives of HERFON’s Board of trustees, Zonal Coordinators, Management and DFID on 31 May 2007, and will be forwarded to the consultants reviewing the HERFON’s constitution and logical framework of DFID’s accountable grant to HERFON; just in time for the Stakeholders meeting on the documents scheduled for Abuja, 21-22 June 2007.

Kindly note that the arrival date for this meeting is 20 June while departure is 23 June, 2007

The outcome draft SBP and constitution will be forwarded to invited participants for the Stakeholders’ meeting in time for the meeting.

We thank and appreciate all those who have participated in the consultations and other meetings/workshop for this review.

3. FAREWELL DINNER FOR THE HEALTH MINISTERS

The farewell dinner for the Professor Eyitayo Lambo – Nigeria’s immediate-past Honourable Minister of Health and Arc Halima Tayo Alao - immediate-past Honourable Minister of State for Health, was held on Wednesady 23 May 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. The Ministers attended in persons.

The dinner was attended by creamed de la cream in the health and development sector including the International Head of the DFID, representatives of the UK High Commission, Permanent Secretary and Directors of the FMoH, World Health Organisation, Oxfam, member of HERFON’s BOT, Zonal Coordinators and State Champions, DG Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, DG Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, etc. It was a very memorable occasion for the duo, and they expressed their gratitude to HERFON for all the support received while they were in the saddle.

We continue to pray for them and wish them success in their next assignments.

4. ENGAGING THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY ALHAJI UMARU YAR’ADUA, GCFR

HERFON is planning to produce a document on suggested Health Agenda for submission to the new federal Government. To this end, an ad hoc committee will be set up in due course. Members and Branches are requested to submit their suggestions for the consideration of the committee to the Secretariat not later that 8 June 2007.

5. EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS/MEETINGS INVOLVING HERFON

Your organization participated as an Associate in the Partnership to revitalize Routine Immunisation in Northern Nigeria (PRRINN) – a DFID-funded programme to support immunization in Yobe, Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara States. The BOT Chairman and Executive Secretary participated in the planning session for the project, and HERFON will support PRRINN with advocacy to the new governments in the aforementioned states, in order to promote Routine Immunisation (RI) and Primary Health Care (PHC). HERFON and PRRINN will work to strengthen the State Chapters of HERFON to enable them perform more effectively.

On 23-25 May 2007, HERFON also participated in the re-engineering national workshop held in Lokoja, on the integrated National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and will support the new NPHCDA to be able to deliver on its mandate.

6. NATIONAL THINK-TANK

The BOT Chairman HRH Dr. Haliru Yahaya and Executive Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe participated in the meeting of the national Think Tank in Lagos on 15 May 2007. The body was put together by concerned Nigerians for influencing policies for better health and governance. Its membership comprise highly credible persons.

7. NIGERIAN HEALTH REVIEW (NHR)

Plans have commenced for the production of the 2007 edition of the NHR. Towards this end, a Review Advisory Committee (RAC) of 15 members has been constituted, with Professor Adetokunbo Lucas as Chairman. The RAC has selected ‘Primary Health Care in Nigeria’ as the theme for the 2007 NHR, while work is ongoing on the appointment of authors and reviewers for the publication.

The RAC members are:

Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas - Chairman
Prof. Michael. C. Asuzu
Prof. Ebenezer. O. Ojofeitimi
Prof. Mohammed Kabir
Prof. Christopher. N. Obionu
Dr. Clara Ejembi
Dr. Festus Iyayi
Dr. Ngozi Njepuome
Prof. Cyril O. Akpala
Dr. Amos Petu
Dr. Abdullahi Tinorgah
Dr. Ebere Anyachukwu
Dr. Emmanuel Emedo
Dr. Aderonke Olumide
Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe
Miss Isibhakhome Esene - Secretary

8. THE NATIONAL HEALTH BILL

Our hope and effort to see the National Health Bill passed and signed into law during the present political dispensation is yet to be realized. Through HERFON leadership’s sustained advocacy, we had expected this bill to be passed by the National Assembly (NASS) on 23/24 April 2007, but the ‘PTDF’ issue came up on the same days, and the passage was not to be. We remain hopeful that this will be realized before the current parliament is dissolved, and are even more resolute to make its passage a prime issue for the next NASS if making it a law is not fully achieved before the eclipse of the current one.

9. THE 2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) … It’s Ogun State!

The 2006 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) is proposed to hold on the last or penultimate Thursday of August 2007, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Among other things, the AGM is expected to adopt a reviewed constitution that will reflect the outcome of the review of the Strategic and Business Plans.

Details of the 2006 AGM will come in subsequent mails.

10. Kindly accept the best wishes of our Executive Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe.
Better Health for All,

Uzo’
*****
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
Resource Centre Manager/Project Coordinator, Nigeria ART Study
Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria [HERFON]
10 Sakono Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Opposite AP Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria
Phone: 09.4618496, DL: 09.4818145, Mobile: 0805.6580180, 0803.4725905, Fax: 09.5240433
Email: uadirieje@herfon.org, uaadirieje@yahoo.com
Website: www.herfon.org, www.nhc2006.org

Dear Esteemed Change Agents, Benefactors and Friends,

We bring you fraternal greetings from the secretariat of your organization – HERFON.

We hope you and your families are in good health, and that you participated actively in the last general elections. Is there any CA who was elected into any position? We will be glad to know.



1. POST ‘NHC2006’ PRE-GENERAL ELECTIONS ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Following the successful organization of the first-ever National Health Conference (NHC2006) in Nigeria in November 2006, HERFON embarked on extensive media advocacy to market/publicise the outcome of the conference [ref: The Punch, Monday, March 5, 2007, p.80; ThisDay, Friday, March 9, 2007, p.38; Daily Trust, Wednesday, March 14, 2007, p.23; Daily Trust, Wednesday, March 7, 2007; The Punch, Monday, March 12, 2007, p.42]. Electoral candidates and political leaders were also engaged and formally presented with the outcome of the conference in 5 of the 6 geopolitical zones as follow: NE (Bauchi), NW (Zamfara), NC (Niger), SW (Ogun, not done), SE (Imo) and SS (Cross River). Political problems made it impossible for the schedule in Ogun state to be implemented. Also, letters bearing copies of the conference communiqué and advocacy handbills were distributed to all identified electoral candidates in all the states of the federation and the FCT.

We congratulate and thank all the State Champions who ensured that these materials were duly delivered across the country.



2. POST ‘NHC2006’ POST-GENERAL ELECTIONS ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Now that we know who the elected leaders are, the secretariat is organizing a programme for each State HERFON to engage those elected within the states. Consequently, State HERFON Champions are invited to Abuja on 25-05-07 for a briefing in this regard on 26-05-07.

At the national level, HERFON leadership will be engaging the leadership of the next National Assembly and the next Health Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the new Minister(s) of Health.


3. NIGERIAN HEALTH REVIEW (NHR)
In furtherance of its mandate to provide critical basis for the realization of Nigeria’s Health Sector Reform (HSR) objectives, your Foundation has published the first ever Nigerian Health Review (NHR). The current edition, which is maiden and for 2006, is a 354-pages breathtaking and historic document that is part of the concerted efforts to sustain the ongoing health sector reforms in Nigeria as expressed in the “Health Sector Reform Programme (HSRP) 2004 – 2007” document. It x-rays the extent to which the HSRP initiative has succeeded or otherwise; while attempting to establish a methodology for conducting subsequent annual reviews. It is also a support to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) towards fulfilling the first trust of the HSRP 2004-2007 i.e. Improving Stewardship Role of Government –which recognises the need for Annual Health System Performance Review.


Each page of the NHR2006 provides credible and critical snapshots of the broadest possible spectrum of the Nigerian health system, and mirrors and monitors the changes and challenges in provision of equitable and accessible health care in the country. These include progress and best health practices which promote changes that will improve and set future agenda for better health care for the people of Nigeria. It focuses on aspects of the Key Health Sector Reform Performance Issues, also called the Seven Strategic Thrusts, and reflects what achievements Nigeria has made on the MDGs, especially Health-related MDGs.

Topics covered in this maiden edition include:

1. History of the Health Sector in Nigeria


2. Stewardship Role of Government


3. National Health System and its Management


4. Child Survival


5. HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis


6. Maternal Health in Nigeria


7. Access to Quality Health Care Services and Infrastructure


8. Community Awareness and Consumer Empowerment


9. Public Private Partnership and Coordination of Development Partners


10. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Health Sector


11. Health Care Financing


12. Human Resources Management for Health


13. Social Determinants of Health


14. Traditional Medicine Practice in Nigeria


15. Issues in Health Research in Nigeria

The NHR2006 was formally presented to local and international audience, at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, on Tuesday, 27 March 2007, by 10.00 o’clock in the morning. I hope you were there!


4. THE NIGERIA ANTERETROVIRAL THERAPY STUDY PROJECT
You will recall that HERFON’s main areas of focus are Health Systems, Immunization, HIV/AIDS and Health-related MDGs (HMDGs).

Following His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo’s announcement that the federal Government was graciously increasing the country’s ART target from 10, 000 to 250, 000; HERFON found it imperative to undertake a study of the massive roll-out of ARVs in Nigeria in order to:

a. Under-study the Nigerian ARV program structures and processes

b. Ascertain the number of persons on the ART and the services rendered to them

c. Identify gaps that are specific to the planning, procurement, distribution and usage of ARVs across the country

d. Ascertain the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of service of the program

e. Study the long term financing implication of the Nigerian ARV scale-up and identify strategies for the suitability of the National ART program

It placed an open competitive bidding process on various eforums inviting proposals. Subsequently, a team of consultants led by Professor John Idoko of the University of Jos, was empanelled to do the work, with coordination and supervision from HERFON’s secretariat. The Study team visited tertiary, secondary and primary care health facilities in one state in each of the six geopolitical zones of the federation, and the FCT, conducting stakeholders and key informants interviews and consultations, observations, focused group discussions, support groups interactions, clients and providers interviews, literature reviews, facility interviews, etc. Anambra, Cross River, Plateau, Lagos, Kaduna and Borno states and the FCT were visited; while teaching/specialist hospitals, general hospitals, primary care centres and or private hospitals which provide ART services, were studied. The study team’s report is being expected following an anticipated de-briefing, while the final report will be formally presented to stakeholders once published. You will surely be the first to know.


5. SUPPORT TO IMPROVING NIGERIA’S IMMUNISATION SERVICES
As part of HERFON’s support to improving and institutionalizing routine immunization (RI) services and coverage in the country, your Foundation, with the support of EU-PRIME, organized immunization capacity building tours of Egypt and Malaysia for traditional and religious leaders, and health/immunization personnel across the country respectively, in December 2006 and April 2007 respectively.


These effort and others have contributed to achieving increased national immunization coverage currently being witnessed in the country, including the pleasant reduction in the incidence of wild polio virus. As one of the partners supporting the current efforts to streamline RI into PHC, HERFON is relentlessly working to sustain this achievement.

6. THE NATIONAL HEALTH BILL
Our hope and effort to see the National Health Bill passed and signed into law during the present political dispensation is yet to be realized. Through HERFON leadership’s sustained advocacy, we had expected this bill to be passed by the National Assembly (NASS) on 23/24 April 2007, but the ‘PTDF’ issue came up on the same days, and the passage was not to be. We remain hopeful that this will be realized before the current parliament is dissolved, and are even more resolute to make its passage a prime issue for the next NASS if making it a law is not fully achieved before the eclipse of the current one.

7. OUTPUT TO PURPOSE REVIEW [OPR] AND HERFON’S RESTRATEGISATION
This year’s review of the activities of HERFON by DFID (our generous funders) took place in February-March 2007. The OPR team interacted with a cross-section of CAs; FMoH officials; Development Partners including DFID, WHO, ENHANSE/USAID, etc; professional associations including the NMA, NANNM, NACHPN, etc. The team also visited Abia, Imo, Kwara and Niger states in the course of its work, interacted with persons and institutions who impact on HERFON and or who are impacted upon by HERFON.
In its report after the review, the OPR team, among other things:

1. Commended HERFON for its unique role in the Nigerian Health Sector, even as it noted that HERFON was engaged in more activities than it currently has the capacity to carry;


2. Recommended the review of HERFON activities, decentralization to States and establishment of more functional zonal offices;


3. Emphasised the need to conclude the ongoing review of HERFON’s constitution, and changes to its strategic plan; and


4. Recommended the review of the logframe for DFID’s support to HERFON, to bring it in line with the strategic plan.

In response to the OPR report, a monitoring committee comprising DFID and HERFON representatives was set up to kick-start the implementation processes. The committee has drawn up a Terms of reference (TOR) for the reviews and is engaging consultants to do this work. These consultants will hold consultations with HERFON’s representative stakeholders across the country during the period of 7-13 May 2007. These consultations will take place in Abuja, Katsina, Enugu and Lagos.



It is expected that the process, including a Stakeholders’ workshop on the Consultants’ draft/report, will be concluded by the end of the 3rd week of June 2007; while the reviewed constitution is scheduled to be adopted during the 2006 annual general meeting.


8. THE 2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
The 2006 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Health reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) is proposed to hold on the last or penultimate Thursday of August 2007. This obviously is a bit late, but is informed by the ongoing review of the Foundation’s activities and the need to be very thorough about it.

We are presenting considering venues in Abia, Akwa Ibom and Ogun States for the meeting. The 2005 AGM was held in Bauchi in 29 June 2006. Details will be communicated to you subsequently.




Kindly accept the best wishes of our Executive Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe.



Better Health for All,

Uzo’