National health plan ready soon - Osotimehin

15.04.2009

A new National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) that will lead to a single national health plan for the country is underway, Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has said.

The minister, who made this known to journalists on Tuesday explained that the NSHDP would serve as the one reference plan for all with an associated consolidated national health investment plan.

He said: “I have since inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) and they have been working tirelessly towards the mandate given. Presently, the TWG is meeting to develop the Zero-Draft of the National Strategic Health Development Framework.

“At the end of the process work, a National Strategic Health Development Plan, consisting of three parts would have been produced: indicating the priority areas; goals; strategic objectives; strategies and activities including various stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities; Monitoring Evaluation indicators; costing/health investment dimensions and timelines for deliverables between now and 2015.”

The minister added that he would be meeting with the commissioners of health between April 27 and 28 to look at the draft NSHDP framework.

Emphasising on the importance of the NSHPD, he said: “We shall endeavor to circulate copies of the framework ahead of the meeting with the commissioners to ensure meaningful discussion. While I recognise the huge demand and commitment of time, I believe it is important we set the framework right now in order to get on with producing the respective health plans for our collective accountability for health development in the country.”