Experts task sub-national levels on improved health security policy, financing

There is need for replication of successes and best practices recorded in financing health security across all states, experts have said.

They stated this during the health security policy and financing forum organised by the Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) through its Prevent Epidemic project (PE) in Abuja. 

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President of LISDEL, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, said states that have not met the health security benchmarks could approach those that have done so and learn from them on how to do better.

He said to properly fund health security at the subnational level, there is need for proper utilization of minimal resources, ensure right persons in positions and ensure speedy implementation of health security plans.

Gafar Alawode, Project Director, Prevent Epidemics Project applauded Lagos and Kano states for their policy and institutional frameworks for health security.

He said two states were not enough as the country has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said the project has been supporting states to conduct external evaluation, which forms the basis of domesticating the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), developing legal frameworks, budget line for health security and successful budget advocacy.

Alawode said there is need for financial framework at sub-national level because state governments also have responsibility in implementing NAPHS, as the federal government and partners alone could not adequately fund health security.

Dr Ifedayo Adetifa Director General Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said strong state political and technical leadership is required for sufficient and sustainable health security funding.

Represented by the Head of Department, Surveillance and Epidemiology, NCDC, Elsie Ilori,  he said the process toward improving health security requires continuous evaluation of capability and addressing resource  gaps.

The Commissioner of Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said setting standards according to international best practices, working closely with relevant health bodies, not compromising quality and inclusion of the private sector helped the state in its pandemic response and health security investments.

He said lessons learned include the fact that political buy-in is strategic to securing a robust health security and that the private sector can be coordinated to provide more synergistic support for a better health security.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of the health security champion award to the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Abayomi.