Strengthening Public Health Organizations for Global Health: Example of Nigeria's National Strategic Health Development Plan 2009 – 2015

Background: Health planning provides an entry point for improving the management of scarce health resources to achieve equity. With the support of external partners, including the DFID-funded Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS2), Nigeria’s FMOH developed its first ever National Strategic health Development Plan that provides a roadmap that defines the investments required for an equitable health system.

Process: A consultative process, Future Search Conference, was used to provide an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders in the health sector including the usually excluded persons, and the voice of the voiceless to be part of the discourse in evolving health sector priorities, and to evolve interventions needed to achieve equitable development in the health sector.

Expected impact: It is expected that adoption of the plan will lead to increased investment in health estimated to reach about $35 per capita, thus raising total health spending in Nigeria to reach international benchmark. The adopted strategic health plan offers a platform for donor coordination in Nigeria, and has provided a basis for the signing of a compact with IHP+ countries for their engagement in the health sector in Nigeria.

The government’s adoption of the plan will lead to a more accountable health care system that removes duplication, measure performance and guarantee a minimum package of health care for Nigerians.

Conclusion: One major threat remains the competing interest of the various stakeholders which if not monitored could hinder the effective implementation of the Strategic Health Plan.

It is critical that this plan is monitored and implemented by all stakeholders to set Nigeria on the path of achieving health equity for its people. In order to achieve this, the first joint annual health review was conducted based on the results framework.