AFRO-NETS> Vision Project Launched in Nigeria

[Akinlabi Jimoh <mracnigeria@yahoo.com>]

Vision Project Launched in Nigeria
----------------------------------

A new direction for Nigeria?s Family Planning and Reproductive 
Healthcare

One hundred and fifty participants representing different stake-
holders at federal, state and local governments levels, Non Govern-
mental Organizations (NGOs), donor agencies professionals groups, 
private healthcare, service providers, religious leaders traditional 
rulers and the media met on February 21, 2002 at the Airport Hotel, 
Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria to launch the VISION Project.

VISION is a project whose aim is to set a new direction for Nigeria?s 
Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) program by building 
on lessons from the past success and constraints, appreciating the 
present potential of RH/FP in strengthening national development ef-
forts and imagining a brighter future.

VISION Project goal is to increase the use of family planning, 
HIV/AIDS and Child Survival Services through the establishment of 
scalable models of high impact, high performing service delivery net-
work built upon public-private partnerships in select LGAs in Bauchi, 
Enugu, and Oyo States. VISION will work in five selected LGAs in each 
State.

Participants recognized the fact that:
* Nigeria?s fast growing 120 million populations will double in the 
  next 25 years with grave consequences;
* Although Nigeria constitutes less than 2% of the world population, 
  it contributes 10% of the world?s maternal death and 13% of all the 
  HIV positive persons in Africa;
* Nigeria?s neo- natal tetanus rate is the fourth largest, worldwide;
* Despite these sobering statistics there is tremendous potential for 
  change. The present democratic system offers a strategic opportunity 
  for developing a long-term plan of assistance to public and private 
  partnerships.

In view of the issues raised above, the participants recommended 
that: 
1. Family Planning/Reproductive Health services be integrated into 
   other healthcare so as to maximize the benefits of universal access. 
2. Government should be more sincere in its policy formulation on 
   population and development by providing necessary resources that 
   would enhance good reproductive health of the citizenry as well as 
   promote child survival and development strategies. 
3. Awareness should be created through relevant information, educa-
   tion and communication (IEC) strategies with the active participation 
   of community leaders. 
4. Linkages among all stakeholders should be encouraged with regards 
   to information, services provision, referrals, availability of com-
   modities and reproductive health technologies. 
5. Derailment of program due to frequent movement of trained person-
   nel (program managers) should be address urgently. 
6. Government should promptly create awareness on the new National 
   Reproductive Health Policy and widely distribute same for implementa-
   tion at all levels. 
7. Training and re-training of FP/RH care providers and adoption of 
   modern techniques be regarded as priority.
8. There should be a well-designed effectively implemented, and ade-
   quately funded Management Information System (MIS) with a strong 
   Monitoring and Evaluation ( M&E) component. 
9. Concerted efforts should be deployed to create an enabling envi-
   ronment for equal opportunities with special focus on educating the 
   girl child and promoting male involvement in RH/FP issues.

Akinlabi Jimoh 
Chairperson
Communiqué Drafting Committee
Media Resourc Advocacy Centre
mailto:mracnigeria@yahoo.com

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