PHM-Exch> REPORT Of LAGOS PHM COURTSY VISIT TO LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Centa for Organisational Development (COD) Nigeria <
codnigeria2010 at gmail.com>
*REPORT OF THE COURTESY VISIT BY PHM LAGOS ON FRIDAY JUNE 10 2011 TO LAGOS
STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, ALAUSA, IKEJA. **BY MRS NKIRU CELINE OKORO.**

AGENDA*

Introduction of PHM & PHM Lagos members by Mrs. Nkiru Celine Okoro

Introduction Lagos State Ministry of Health by Dr. Jemilade A. R. Longe
Director Family Health & Nutrition.

Possible Areas of Collaboration BETWEEN Lagos State MOH & PHM Lagos.

Next Steps , Closing.

*BACKGROUND TO VISIT OF LAGOS STATE MOH:*

Following the inaugural meeting of PHM Lagos on March 10 2011, members
resolved to reach out to critical health institutions in the state to
intimate them of the vision, mission, and goals of PHM Nigeria.  This is an
important step in providing an enabling environment for PHM Lagos to
intervene constructively in the health advocacy emanating from the state in
a constructive and objective manner. Expectedly, on March 30th 2011, PHM
Lagos Secretariat sent letters to the following institutions:

   1. Lagos State Ministry of Health,
   2. Lagos State Agency for The control of HIV/AIDS,
   3. Nigerian Medical Association- Lagos State Branch now Guild of Medical
   Practitioners,
   4. Nigerian Pharmaceutical Association – Lagos State branch and
   5. Lagos State Association of Nurses & Midwives.

After several follow up visits and telephone calls, Dr Olatunji of Lagos
State Ministry of Health on Tuesday June 7th 2011 called Mrs. Nkiru Okoro to
confirm that Lagos State Ministry of Health as represented by Dr. Jemilade
A. R. Longe, Director Family Health & Nutrition would be available to meet
with us on Friday June 10 by 12 noon.

The meeting between Lagos State Ministry of Health and PHM Lagos Started by
1pm with formal introductions of Ministry’s representatives and members of
PHM Lagos Team.  We explained that PHM has its roots in the over 25 years of
constructive engagement of health systems and institutions in the world
including the World Health Organization by various civil society networks
and organizations that are passionate about qualitative health delivery in
the world based on the 1978 Alma – Ata declaration which promised Health for
all by the year 2000. PHM seeks complete revision of all international and
domestic policies that have negatively impacted health systems and
structures all over the world including Nigeria.

PHM Nigeria has its roots in the selection by PHM Nairobi in March 2010 of
Four Nigerians – Mrs. Nkiru Celine Okoro, Ms. Kemi Bello, Damilola and Pat
to attend a two week funded PHM Training conference in Kisumu Nairobi from
April 19 to May 3rd 2010. The formation of PHM Nigeria after the April /May
2010 conference in Nairobi is one of the positive outcomes of that regional
conference. Since May 2010, PHM Nigeria has opened its membership to include
all those who are passionate about wholesome qualitative health delivery for
all in Nigeria. PHM Nigeria as at date has over 30 identified and active
members spread across Abuja, Ife, Kano, Bauchi, Port Harcourt and Lagos
States.  We have at the national level elected our national coordinators and
heads of committees to include the following

Kemi Bello – National Secretary, Gbenga Adebayo – National Co-ordinator,
Nkiru Celine Okoro – Head of Communication, Networking and Fund raising
Committees- it is important to note that Mrs. Nkiru Celine Okoros selection
in the Kisumu conference was predicated on her strong communication skills-
a role assaigned to her by PHM Nairobi, which she continue to play for PHM
Nigeria. Other PHM National Committees are Program/Activity Committee –
headed by Ms kemi Bello and Community Development Committee headed by Gbenga
Adebayo.

Lagos State PHM held its inaugural meeting on March 10 2011. The following
persons were unanimously selected to lead PHM Lagos. They are Mrs Bose
Ironsi - state Co-ordinator, Mrs. Nkiru Okoro is the State secretary/ Cod
Nigeria Lagos office - PHM secretariat, and Mrs. Philomena Okure: a member
of People Empowerment Organization in charge of  fundraising and Treasury.

PHM Nigeria has developed its 2010/2011 activity plan that is currently
being implemented at national and state levels. Top on that plan is courtesy
visits to key health institutions in the country among others. In line with
the activity plan, PHM Lagos on Tuesday April 192011 paid a courtesy visit
to Lagos State Agency for the control of HIV/Aids (LASACA) and are in the
process of registering with them. PHM Lagos would in the coming weeks and
months seek to collaborate with Lagos State Ministry of Health for the
domestication of the recently passed *Nigeria Health Bill* 2011 in Lagos
State.  We would be involved in research documentations on the most urgent
primary health care needs of Lagosian. Other areas of interest include
working with relevant focal agencies for effective and efficient primary
health care delivery in the state. Suffice to note that the basic difference
between PHM and other health organizations and networks in Nigeria and
indeed the world, is that *PHM takes a holiest approach to health that
includes social, economic, political, cultural, environmental, and above all
a fundamental right. *

Dr. Jemilade A. R. Longe, Director, Family Health & Nutrition Department of
the Lagos State Ministry of Health explained that Lagos State Ministry of
Health is the focal Ministry with the responsibility for the delivery of
health services in the state. To carry out this function the Ministry is
divided into several departments including Department for Disease control,
family Health and Nutrition, Primary Health Care etc. The ministry works
with UNICEF and other development institutions in carrying out its core
responsibilities.  Using the Public Private participation, the Ministry has
implemented programs on provision of school Milk for pupils in Lagos State
Public Schools, reduction of maternal mortality through integrated maternal
mortality programs. The Ministry has in the last ten years deepened its
activities in preventing blindness, reduction in breast and cervical cancer
to mention but a few.

Dr. Longe decried the position of Lagos State as Nigerians Center of
Excellence as imparting negatively on the state. He said, “Lagos is a victim
of its own success that has brought upon itself more people to serve than
all the other states in the federation”. Funding and financing remain the
biggest challenge the states Ministry of Health is facing due to increasing
numbers of persons migrating into the state daily.

He appreciated PHM Lagos for reaching out to them and promised that as soon
as this report is ready he would personally initiate as soon as possible a
larger meeting of all the Heads of Departments of Lagos State Ministry of
Health and PHM Lagos on the next steps for both. The meeting came to a close
by 2pm.
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