Nigeria government launches strategic plan for health promotion

By Gloria Essien, Abuja

The Nigerian government has launched the National Strategic Plan for Health Promotion 2020-2024, the Knowledge Management Guideline for Health Promotion 2020-2024 and the Counseling Flip Chart on Key Household Practices and Counseling Flip Chart on Family.

While launching the documents in Abuja, the Nigerian minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the policy documents would provide guidance for the improved health of Nigerians, empowerment of individuals, families, households, groups and communities.

“The National Health Promotion Policy, 2019 is meant to actualize President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision, which is to improve the health and wellbeing of Nigerians’ through promotion of healthy lifestyle.  The launch and presentation demonstrates that the Ministry of Health is not just concerned with treating illness but also putting policy in place for attaining and sustaining good health for the citizens, so that more people can enjoy good health and fewer people falling sick.

“This landmark event to present, launch and disseminate the revised National Health Promotion Policy 2019 and its ancillary Strategic Policy Documents, is timely and desirable, because it aims to actualize Federal Government’s commitment to improving health and wellbeing of Nigerians, by highlighting options to making healthier lifestyle choices,” Dr. Ehanire said.

“Health education in communities and settings such as schools, workplace and worship centers, present an opportunity to disseminate information on health and impart life skills that promote healthy and health seeking behaviors, which remain throughout life,” the Minister said.

Dr. Ehanire also said that Health Promotion activities at national and sub-national levels are central to the Basic Minimum Package of Healthcare Services provided by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, coordinated by the Health Promotion Division of the Department of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and supported by the National Health Promotion Forum, after the maiden National Health Promotion Policy was launched earlier in 2006.

In her remarks, the minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen, urged the federal government to prioritise women’s health.

“Women are usually the most vulnerable in every area of life. So much attention should be given to them at all cost. The inclusion of women in health policy will go a long way as they usually do not have the economic power to afford the out of pocket expenses from health care cost,” Mrs. Tallen said.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora while delivering the key statement said that the National Presentation, Ministerial launch and Dissemination of the National Health Promotion Policy 2019 and its Ancillary Strategic Policy Documents is timely and “an honour for Nigeria and indeed the Ministry of Health to envision that its population is equipped with adequate and effective health information; to take timely action in disease prevention and increase control over their health.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazardi Mulombo, commended Nigeria for the efforts in revitalising the primary healthcare centres across the country.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said: “As legislators, during our campaigns and interactions with all our electorates, we will be promoting health. Legislators perform the functions of legislation, representation and oversight and we use all these processes to support health promotion,” Oloriegbe said.

Other stakeholders at the launch commended the Nigerian government for the proactive initiative towards improving the health of the Nigerian people.