Bukola Afeni
A Health Consortium has called for the review of existing accountability framework for COVID-19 and health security in Nigeria.
The consortium consisting of Health Reform Foundation, Vaccine Network for Disease Control, African Health Budget Network, and GemHub Initiative.
The Program Manager of HERFON, Dr Opeyemi Adeosun said it is essential for stakeholders in the health sector to collaborate and build an accountability framework from the existing ones.
He made the disclosure at a technical Workshop on the Review of Existing Accountability Framework For Health Security and COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.
” We need to harmonize an existing one by leveraging on the existing ones in terms of financing. We want to build indicators that will track some of the activities beyond financing that can aid us in achieving better result for health security in Nigeria”, he said.
The Program Manager said the project will also aid in solving some of the challenges in the health sector.
” Some of the issues that we are facing are interwoven. When there is flooding in the country, different MDAs ģet involved develop critical capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies.”
Executive Secretary HERFON, Dr Celestine Okorie called for more efficient preparation to tackle health emergencies.
“There is an important need for us to better prepare for future diseases outbreaks because, we may not be as lucky as we were when COVID-19 happened. One of the most important step in this regard is for us to build robust accountability mechanism that can hold stakeholders accountable for our collective health security”, he said.
He urged the participants to contribute effectively to improving accountability and transparency in the management of health security activities in Nigeria.
“The objective of the workshop is to review and collate existing accountability frameworks for COVID-19 and health security in Nigeria .
“It is important for them to obtain relevant information regarding health security finance management in Nigeria and to explore innovative methods to improve the accountability processes which align with the NCDC 5yrs strategic action plan”, Dr Okorie added.
The Head of Programmes, Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Chika Nwankwo, emphasized the critical need for accountability and transparency in the health sector, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future health crises.
Nwankwo also reteirated the urgent necessity for reassessment and preparation towards health emergencies.
“We were here when COVID-19 happened, all hands must be on deck such that we can re -strategize effectively. We need to manage the funds allocated during emergencies “, she said.
The Head of Program stressed the importance of monitoring budget allocations to ensure effective implementation of health programs.
“We also delved into budgetary concern, with a focus on timely release and domestic resource mobilization at the state level”, she added.
Health Economist AHBN, Memuna Abdullahi, disclosed that accountability and transparency is important in the health security space.
“For us to achieve health security, stakeholders must be actively involved.
We are here today review the existing accountability frameworks for health security in the country .
We should be fully prepared to address re- occurring emergency health issues.
“The importance of accountability can not be underscored. The health system need to be properly strengthened because we know that definitely there will be more pandemics”, she said.