From Gyang Bere
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said Nigeria is leading other African sub-region in the campaign for the implementation of National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) through robust activities by Federal Ministry of Health and Smile Train.
The Minister disclosed this on Wednesday at the NSOANP, National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan for Nigeria and Cleft Care Stakeholders, held at Ebeto hotel, Abuja.
Represented by Director, Hospital Service and the speech read by the Mrs Aviso G. Adegoke, Director Federal Medical Centre said one of the activities carried include the dissemination of the NSOANP 2019-2023 to the 36 states and FCT.
“Nigeria has since taken the lead in this campaign in the Africa sub-region through the development, launching and ongoing implementation of the NSOANP with several activities by both the Federal Ministry of Health and partners/relevant stakeholders such as Smile Train. One of such activities include the dissemination of the NSOANP (2019 – 2023) to the 36 States + FCT and nomination of NSOANP Desk Officers by the State Ministries of Health and Federal Tertiary Hospitals.
“NSOANP was birthed from the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution 68/15 of May 2015, which mandated member states to ensure that emergency and essential surgical, obstetrics, anaesthesia and nursing care are integral component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The NSOANP is hinged on these six (6) pillars – Infrastructure, Service Delivery, Workforce/Human Resources, Training and Education SCAT-Hands, Health Information, Metrics and Research, Finance Surgical Care and Healthcare Leadership and Governance.
“It is my expectation that this 2nd Forum will afford the opportunity to review actions/feedbacks/milestones arising from the last meeting of the as well as proffer realistic and achievable steps towards furthering the course of the NSOANP.”
Vice President and Regional Director, Africa Smile Train, Mrs. Nkieruka Obi appreciated the stakeholders for their commitment towards the actualization of the project.
“This is the 3rd fora we are having for Nigeria NSOANP implementation and stakeholders and Cleft Care, that even at the pick of COVID-19, this was being done and I can only attribute it to the level of commitment of everyone seated here, from the Federal Ministry of Health to the field officers to our partners and to the Smile Train team on ground.
“NSOANP implementation has become a flagship project coming out from Africa to the world and I am proud that Nigeria is taking the lead and I want to thank Prof. Emmanuel Emeh who insisted that the right thing must be done.
“When the NSOANP policy document was developed, we were just invited as casual stakeholders, when we got to that meeting in 2019 and we saw alot of opportunities and alot of potentials, we believe it was going to be something that will change the narrative of what Nigeria has offered the world and we decided to work together.
“I am proud to say that the Federal Ministry of Health has been super supportive, I have my own perception, with with the Ministry and I want to appreciate the Honourable Minister of health for taking the bold initiative to make things work.” She stated.
She appreciated the Minister of Health, the Director of Health Services and the NSOANP desk officer, adding that there are people who without which, things wouldn’t have work well.
The stakeholders engaged into meaningful deliberation and paper presentation while, Prof. Emmanuel Ameh spoke on Infrastructure and finance progress, Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide spoke on children’s surgery progress, Mrs. Olubunmi  Lawal spoke on Nursing progress and Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide also spoke on information, research and metrics progress among others.