Stakeholders from government institutions, civil society, and public health agencies have validated the Health Security Accountability Framework, which aims to promote responsible health financing and equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
The stakeholders made this known at the Validation Meeting for the Accountability Framework and Scorecard on Health Security on Thursday in Abuja.
The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on health sector reforms.
Gem Hub Initiative, in partnership with Vaccine Network for Disease Control and Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, organised the validation Meeting for the Accountability Framework and Scorecard on Health Security.
The Executive Secretary, HERFON, a lead convener of the initiative, Dr Celestine Okorie described the event as a milestone in the country’s health accountability journey.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our ability to foster improved transparency, promote responsible financing, and ensure equitable access to vaccines and health security.
“This project, generously funded by the African Health Budget Network and implemented by several partners, represents a bold collaborative stride towards achieving accessible, affordable, and accountable health systems,” he said.
According to him, over the last two decades, the initiative has tracked investments in health security and advocated for improved access among vulnerable populations.
He said that the validated framework was expected to further unify stakeholders in refining strategies and tracking the use of public funds in health-related interventions.
Dr Fatima Abubakar, from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), applauded the framework’s alignment with national goals.
“As Nigeria’s public health institute, we value accountability platforms such as this. They help to improve funding outcomes, especially in preparedness and budgeting.
“We have seen improvements from previous assessments, and we hope this initiative will lead to more impactful results over time,” Abubakar said.
Dr Agha Ukpai, from the National Biosecurity Management Agency (NBMA), also pledged full support for the initiative.
Agha stressed the critical role of biosecurity in Nigeria’s public health landscape.
“This meeting is very important, not only for public health but also for biosecurity.
“Anything you are doing in biosafety and biosecurity, please invite us. When we work together, our nation becomes biosecure, and when the nation is biosecure, all Nigerians benefit,” he said.
From a fiscal governance perspective, Dr Anayo Ike, Technical Assistant to the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), said that the initiative complemented government’s budgeting philosophy.
“We do not look at health issues in isolation.
“Health security cuts across sectors, environment, prevention, immunisation, and treatment. That is why we support this initiative and will continue to work with you,” he said.
Ike noted progress in budgeting and tracking frameworks, especially for immunisation, and expressed interest in extending similar tools to health security indicators.
“We are looking at adapting line items specific to health security to simplify monitoring and performance tracking within the budget cycle,” he said.
Adding a civil society perspective, Mr Sadiq Sani, Budget Associate, Africa Health Budget Network, said that the office’s unwavering commitment to promoting transparency and citizens’ participation.
“Our core mandate is accountability, and that’s why AHBN is supporting this initiative. We hope all contributions here today will drive better outcomes in healthcare accessibility,” he said.
As stakeholders concluded the meeting, a shared sentiment echoed across the room.
Transparency, equitable funding, and cross-sector collaboration were considered as no longer optional; they are seen as essential to securing the health of Nigeria’s population in a time of global uncertainty.
NAN
