The program coordinator for Global Funds Malaria Support, Umeh Chukwunonso, has called for sustainability of government policy on malaria funding in the country.
Chukwunonso spoke at the ongoing Global Fund-Malaria Leadership programme organised by the Africa Resource Centre (ARC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.
He emphasized that the programme is not aimed at changing the entire system of public health but to fill in the gaps that arises from the Strategic Policy Trust from the Federal Ministry of Health which provides room for improvement.
Explaining how the policy would be sustained, Chukwunonso said “one of the key things we will be highlighting around the supply chain performance is sustainability. How do we sustain whether we have have on ground? Do we have a mechanism funds for activities that we need to do at the state? Do we have a mechanism to hold people accountable.
“The need for us to leverage on this programme is to build on those gaps especially in business modelling. How do we make out funds and stop depending solely on funds form private sectors or donors? Even if the private sector still gives you the funds, try will still request for accountability.
“If we can build an in-house intriguing system that actually looks inward to provide a basics for funds to always be there for us to carry out our activities, we should not lack in anything because Nigeria has the resources and capabilities if we channel our grievances to the right direction.”
Also, Pharm. Henrietta Bakura Onyeneke, Deputy Director, National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) of the Department of Food and Drugs Services, Ministry of Health called on all delegates present to see themselves as ambassadors of this laudable initiatives and urged them to transfer the skills that will be learn to their place of work.
She also said that the delegates should imbibe the best practices that will compliment the already existing leadership schemes that have been brought.
“At the end of the day, we look forward to being part of the organ that have facilitated the achievements of the universal health coverage in line with Sustainable Development Goals.”
Those in attendance includes facilitators from UNOCASA, Linus Odoemene; Immediate Past National Coordinator, (NPSCMP), Idrish Momoh; National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Taye Adewale; Head of Supply Chain for Africa and Resource Centre, Nigeria, delegates from the public health system in Yobe, Kaduna and Adamawa states amongst others.
