[afro-nets] Policy Making in Nigeria: When evidence is simply unacceptable

[A. Odutola <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

Policy-making in Nigeria: When evidence is simply unacceptable
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As the move toward an evidence-based approach to healthcare and
development programming gathers momentum globally, increased at-
tention has to be paid especially in developing countries to
strategies that ensure that knowledge gained from the best re-
search is actually used in practice especially at the topmost
level of decision-making.

The following report from Nigeria typifies the significant chal-
lenges that still abound in developing countries regarding the
acceptance and use of the best evidence to drive policy-making
and resource allocation.

According to recent reports, Nigeria?s government-owned Federal
Office of Statistics, using indices provided by the African De-
velopment Bank estimated that poverty level in the Niger Delta
area of Nigeria currently is above 70%. The indices used in de-
riving this information included how many people in the zone
have access to safe water, education, healthcare services and
quality housing. Nigeria?s President Obasanjo however considered
the figure preposterous and dismissed it outright. Adamant that
the measure of poverty in the area and country was too high, the
president directed that the 70 per cent claim of poverty in the
Niger Delta area of Nigeria be removed immediately from record.
Declaring emphatically, he directed "?that one (70% figure) will
disappear (from record) until we get it right". (Vanguard, Nige-
ria. 11/11/04)

For full story, visit:
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=11688

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A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com