NAN-HG-20
Inauguration
By Mustapha Yauri
Abuja, Feb. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI2) and the Federal Ministry of Health, have jointly inaugurated “The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria’’ to improve access to reproductive healthcare in rural communities.
Speaking at the inauguration of the initiative on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the initiative would provide ample opportunities for increased investment towards improving family planning service delivery.
The minister, who was represented by Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, the Director, Family Health in the ministry, said government had developed a Family Planning Blueprint to aid the implementation of robust family planning programmes.
Cue in audio
“I will reassure you that the Federal Ministry of Health will continue to collaborate with development partners, NGOs, the organised private sector, state ministries of health and other relevant stakeholders to build consensus on modalities for improving provision of quality and affordable family planning services.
“The launch of the challenge initiative will provide ample opportunities for investing in family planning programmes towards facilitating the implementation of key interventions that stakeholders have already identified as critical to successful family planning service delivery.
“Adaptation of the Nigerian Family Planning Blueprint by all states and the development of state specific.
“Costed Implementation Plans for result-oriented implementation in all states, are critical in this regard.’’
Cue out audio
The minister added that government would strengthen partnership and collaborations to boost resource mobilisation for family planning, reproductive and maternal health.
Speaking earlier, Dr Mojisola Odeku, Portfolio Director NURHI 2, said the TCI was a global initiative which aimed to scale up what had worked in about four countries in the area of family planning.
Odeku said TCI will draw lessons from the urban reproductive health initiative which had been functional in the country since 2009.
She added that NURHI had evidence of what had worked in Nigeria, while working with the poorest of the poor in six urban cities.
“The TCI will provide an avenue for those who have shown intention to adopt the model in their states or communities
“TCI will be helping them since the Urban and Reproductive Health Nigeria designed it and rolled it out; it will provide technical assistance to the states and communities that show interest in the project,’’ she said. (NAN)
AM/DOR/YEE
Edited by Nyisom/Emmanuel Yashim
=============================