Nigeria’s stakeholders call for increased investment and improved accountability and transparency in the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, elderly health and nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) sector. The call was made at a workshop organized by the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) in Abuja.
The workshop aimed to present the draft Nigeria RMNCAEH+N Strategy, review and build consensus on indicators for Nigeria’s RMNCAEH+N accountability scorecard and develop the scoring sheet for the scorecard. Participants included representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs), media, youth and government officials.
Coordinator of AHBN, Dr. Aminu Magashi emphasised the need for robust investment in RMNCAEH+N services, highlighting the urgent need for increased budgetary allocation to the sector. Magashi stressed that investment in maternal and child health is not just a health issue, but also an economic and social imperative.
Youth advocate, Mr. Olympus Adebanjo voiced the need for greater accountability, emphasising the importance of transparent reporting and effective use of resources. Similarly, the CSO representative and executive director of Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Mrs. Chika Offor called for a unified approach to addressing health challenges, stressing the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders.
The vice-president of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), Ms. Racheal Abujah stressed the importance of governance and leadership in driving accountability and transparency in the health sector.
During the plenary sessions, stakeholders discussed the development of indicators to better track and report health investments and outcomes. The workshop concluded with a consensus on the key indicators for the RMNCAEH+N accountability scorecard, which will serve as a vital tool for monitoring and evaluating progress in the sector.
