OPENING REMARKS OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, MR. ABDULAZIZ MASHI AT THE OCCASSION OF THE NATIONAL PRESENTATION, MINISTERIAL LAUNCH & DISSEMINATION OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH PROMOTION POLICY 2019 HELD MONDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 2020
PROTOCOL
I am most delighted to welcome you all to this important National Presentation, Ministerial Launch and dissemination of the National Health Promotion Policy 2019 and its Ancillary Strategic Policy documents. This aim to provide guidance on actualisation of the Federal Government’s commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of Nigerians through the promotion of healthy lifestyle and Universal Health Coverage.
2. As we all know, the National Health Policy 2016 recognizes that Nigeria is saddled with an unbearable burden of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases. This is coupled with issues such as low levels of health literacy, poor sanitation and inadequate attention to key social determinants of health.
3. Health Promotion is a process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health. But the current poor health seeking behaviour of the Nigerian populace has made the occurrence of public health emergencies, and most recently, COVID-19 pandemic an area of concerns.
4. Likewise, available evidence indicates that due to globalisation and other factors, the country is experiencing drastic changes in disease patterns with more people affected by cancers, diabetes, hypertension, mental health conditions, road traffic accidents, domestic violence, unsafe sex practices, insufficient physical activity, unhealthy consumption patterns of alcohol and tobacco.
5. Against this background, and in recognition of health promotion as an effective tool for individual and collective health actions aimed at preventing diseases, improving the health and wellbeing of the populace, ensuring a healthy society for all; the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Stakeholders revised the 2006 National Health Promotion Policy inline with current public health realities as well as global trends in health promotion practices.
6. The revised National Health Promotion Policy 2019 is meant to empower the Nigerian populace to take timely actions in disease prevention, improving their health and wellbeing as well as taking measures that ensure a healthy society. While the Policy’sancillary Strategic Policy documents aims to ensure that health promotion steps out of its less successful past, become a formidable contributor to improving the health and wellbeing of theNigerian populace.
7. To achieve a successful National launch and eventual roll-out of the revised Policy and its Strategic Policy documents, it is important to secure the buy-in of all key Stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Governments at all levels, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations, Traditional and Religious Leaders, the Media, Professional Bodies, Private Sector, Non-Governmental Organisations, Philanthropists and Community and Faith Based Organisations.
8. In the course of this National Launch, we will discuss efforts already made by the Federal Government to re-position Health Promotion programming for increase public visibility at National, State and LGA levels.
9. May I use this opportunity to appreciate our Development Partners, most especially the United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organisation, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, Lafiya-UK support for health in Nigeria, African Health Budget Network, USAID funded Breakthrough Action-Nigeriaand Breakthrough Research-Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative, John Snow Incorporated, The Challenge Initiative, Centre for Communication and Social Impact, and other Partners for your technical and financial support to this noble course.The Federal Government looks forward to further collaboration and support from all of you.
10. On behalf of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. E. Osagie Ehanire, I welcome you to the National Presentation, Ministerial Launch and dissemination of the National Health Promotion Policy 2019 and its Ancillary Strategic Policy documents.
11. I thank you for your attention.
