The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) and its two consortium partners, the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), and the Gem Hub Initiative (GHI), have been awarded a $25,000 grant by the African Health Budget Network (AHBN) to strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda.
Dr. Celestine Okorie, the Executive Secretary of HERFON, made this announcement during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday.
The grant, Okorie disclosed, is designated for an 18-month duration and is titled: “Strengthening Accountability for Health Security Finances and Equitable Access to Vaccines in Nigeria.”
Okorie explained that the grant aims to support advocacy efforts focused on enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats that jeopardize the nation’s overall well-being.
He mentioned HERFON’s participation in the Africa Regional Advocacy Summit for NGOs and Media organized by AHBN and the Joint External Evaluation – Health Security Action Plan facilitated by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). These initiatives fostered discussions on strengthening Africa’s health security and evaluated Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacities in various technical areas.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Okorie stressed the importance of fortifying national health security preparedness.
Okorie commended the Federal Government’s initiatives, including the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS 2018-22) and the establishment of the Public Health Emergency and Outbreak Response Fund (PHEORF), administered by the NCDC.
Mrs. Chika Offor, Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) and founder of VNDC, emphasized the need for Nigeria to mobilize internal resources to support national health security objectives. She urged the government to allocate full funding for the national health security agenda to ensure readiness for future epidemics or pandemics.
To enhance transparency and accountability in the national security agenda, Offor proposed granting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) a permanent seat in decision-making processes related to the agenda. She highlighted CSOs’ capacity to monitor accountability on behalf of the broader civil society.
Additionally, Mrs. Oyeyemi Pitan, Executive Director of GHI, emphasized the importance of improved coordination in both the development and implementation phases of the National Health Security Agenda. She urged the involvement of critical stakeholders such as the office of the National Security Adviser and the National Biosafety Management Agency in the coordination process. Pitan emphasized the need for a cooperative, multisectoral, and interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness among humans, animals, and plants in addressing health security.
