HEALTH BUDGET PERFORMANCE CAMPAIGN
#FundNaijaHealth
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
WHY FUND NAIJA HEALTH
Background
Despite reductions in maternal and newborn mortality across the world, Nigeria still faces the worse form of healthcare challenges especially for mothers and their newborns. Nigeria is faced with multifaceted health challenges ranging from lapses in maternal and newborn healthcare, shortage of skilled health personnel, poorly equipped medical facilities, and unavailability of life-saving commodities needed to save mothers and newborns, inadequate health facilities, etc. These health challenges are particularly pronounced in rural areas and among the poorest and most marginalized. The rate of pregnancy-related injuries, infections, diseases, disabilities and preventable adverse newborn health outcomes are still very high. These challenges are preventable but requires government’s financial commitment in delivering quality healthcare services that work for all and especially for mothers and newborns.
One of the major healthcare delivery challenges we have in the country is that resources are not always made available for Key critical health interventions. Nigeria is yet to meet the Abuja target to allocate 15 per cent of the budget to health. It is also important to note that the little that is budgeted to health are often not released on time, thereby reducing the chances of women and children from, benefitting from what was allocated. This is because approved budget is not often released in record time, and when released it is misappropriated.
About MamaYe- Evidence for Action
MamaYe-Evidence for Action is about saving the lives of Africa’s mothers and babies. We empower local and global voices with the evidence to make pregnancy and childbirth safer. We believe that we can work together as ordinary people in advocating for issues that replaces assumptions with answers, turn apathy into action, and ensure maternal and newborn survival is made a constant political priority and at the forefront of political agenda.
Across Nigeria, health systems are making slow progress in improving maternal and newborn survival despite a strong evidence base that describes the interventions needed to save the lives of mothers and babies. MamaYe-E4A acts as a catalyst for action, using evidence strategically to generate political commitment, strengthen accountability and inform planning and budgeting for quality maternal and newborn health care delivery through advocacy.
About The Campaign MamaYe- Evidence for Action launched the #FundNaijaHealth Campaign, A Health Budget Performance Campaign in an effort to draw attention of policy and decision makers and the relevant ministries responsible for the implementation of health policies and plans, on issues bothering around timely Release and utilization of appropriated funds for health and provision of oversight function in the monitoring and evaluation of impact of the funds released to improve accountability and transparency in health budgetary process.
The #FundNaijaHealth Campaign intends to create awareness around these issues aforementioned and work closely with stakeholders through collective participatory process to mitigate those bottlenecks. This is in recognition of constitutional responsibility of government to achieving quality healthcare to citizenry in line with the sustainable Development Goals and the Universal Health Coverage which are some of the international treaties Nigerian government has signed and pledged to uphold.
Campaign Message
Government should release all appropriated health allocations on time, as this will enhance access to the healthcare services for citizens, particularly mothers and newborns receive.
The States Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, and States Ministry of Health should regularly publish on-line the health budget process and other budgetary information, to facilitate increased citizen participation in the budgetary process, and in the implementation and impact tracking of released funds
The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and the Federal Ministry of Health should regularly publish on-line the health budget process and other budgetary information, to facilitate increased citizen participation in the budgetary process, and in the implementation and impact tracking of released funds
Government should work towards increasing annual budgetary allocation to health to meet the 15 per cent target agreed by the Heads of Governments of African nations.
Join the Campaign
Together with one voice we can achieve the desired change; the campaign is for all Nigerians to actively participate and amplify so that the targeted goal will be achieved. Here are couple of ways you can participate in driving the campaign:
Join health advocacy team in your state to carry stakeholders engagement activities that will amplify the campaign objectives towards finding sustainable solutions to the challenges identified
Use the #hashtag to engage and discuss with relevant stakeholders online on the importance of timely release of appropriated funds for health for the improvement of our healthcare system.
Partner with MamaYe and the States Led Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Newborn Health to achieve accountability and transparency in the health sector
Be the voice that helped in achieving this campaign goal in Nigeria
Essential health services should be available to everyone, regardless of their income. To do this, health needs to be a high political priority and receive timely Funding to make it happen. #FundNaijaHealth Use graphics 2
Timely approval and release of funds budgeted for health will assist @NphcdaNG provide effective and efficient #RMNCAH service delivery. @AsoRock, #FundNaijaHealth.
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Inadequate release of budgeted funds contributes to the problem of life-saving commodities being out of stock in HFs, and reduces the survival chances of mothers and children. #FundNaijaHealth.
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When skilled birth attendants, essential life-saving commodities, and timely care are available in functional health facilities, safe delivery is better assured. @AsoRock #FundNaijaHealth by releasing funds on time for the assurance of minimum service package in PHCs @Fmohnigeria @NphcdaNG
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To reduce complications at childbirth stemming from pregnant women patronizing unskilled birth attendant, @Fmohnigeria should improve access to basic/free healthcare services for pregnant women. #FundNaijaHealth.
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.@AsoRock should progressively work towards increasing the National health budget to meet the 15% agreed benchmark. #FundNaijaHealth.
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Unavailability of executive budget proposal for public access makes it difficult for citizens to make meaningful input into health budget defence at the National Assembly. #FundNaijaHealth through open access to budget information
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For accountability and transparency, @Fmohnigeria @NphcdaNG @NhisNg should periodically make available to the public the approved national health budget for easy tracking of programme implementation and impact evaluation. #FundNaijaHealth.
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Our ask is simple, @AsoRock and @NigGovForum should #FundNaijaHealth and progressively increase the annual health budget until the recommended 15% target is achieved. @MamaYeNigeria
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The need for skilled birth attendants is huge, as the lives of pregnant women and newborns largely depend on the skilled service they require. @Fmohnigeria @NphcdaNG, recruit, train and place midwives and nurses in every PHC. #FundNaijaHealth.
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To reduce preventable causes of death during pregnancy and childbirth, access to life-saving commodities is key. #FundNaijaHealth through timely release of funds for adequate stocking of medical consumables in our PHCs.
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Primary healthcare centres can only function effectively when adequate funds are set aside and released timeously to provide good quality basic health services. #FundNaijaHealth. @NphcdaNG, @AsoRock @MamaYeNigeria
The 2016/17, the health budget performance was low due to late releases of capital expenditure. This 2018, @AsoRock @NigGovForum we want to see improved health budget performance through timely release of funds #FundNaijaHealth. @MamaYeNigeria
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.#SDGs emphasizes the importance of equipping, training & supporting health workers to deliver comprehensive health system solutions. @AsoRock We need to #FundNaijaHealth and INVEST in trained and skilled #midwives to achieve #SDG3
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#FundNaijaHealth: Efficient funding of the health sector is crucial to achieving better health and wellbeing for everyone – @MamaYeNigeria we want mothers to deliver healthy babies with the quality of care they deserve!
Make national health budget information available to the public for transparency, accountability, and participation.
1 out of every 29 Nigerian children die as newborns. These children could survive if adequate life-saving commodities are routinely available in health facilities. #FundNaijaHealth
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Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio of 576 of every 100,000 livebirths is embarrassing.
