April 22-23 marked a significant step forward in Nigeria’s health sector as key stakeholders convened in Abuja to focus on the implementation of the Collaborative Action Strategy (CAS) within the country. The meeting brought together influential figures from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and partners from the Health Campaign Effectiveness (HCE) Coalition.
The primary goal of this gathering was to tailor the global CAS framework to meet Nigeria’s unique health campaign needs. This marked the beginning of a critical process involving the establishment of three Technical Working Groups (TWGs). These groups are centered on Planning & Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting (MERLA), and Financing & Policy, respectively.
A key milestone set during the meeting was the task for the TWGs to develop Terms of Reference (TORs) and commence drafting the Nigeria-specific CAS document. This document is a pivotal part of the process, with an aim for completion in the coming weeks.
The workshop underscored the importance of fostering enhanced collaboration and integration among various health campaigns. There was a shared commitment among participants to broaden the representation and socialization with additional stakeholders, including Polio teams, sub-national organizations, and community-level representatives in the months ahead.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the introduction of the Cross-Program Campaign mapping tool developed by Linksbridge. This innovative tool demonstrated its utility in identifying the current isolated campaign management practices. It was met with enthusiasm from all attendees, who saw its potential for improving campaign coordination over the next three years (2024, 2025, and 2026).
This meeting represented a crucial convergence of efforts aimed at enhancing health outcomes in Nigeria through strategic, collaborative actions. The collective readiness among the stakeholders to fill in the gaps and integrate efforts signals a hopeful future for the successful deployment of the CAS in Nigeria.
With the dedicated focus on customizing the CAS to fit Nigeria’s health needs, the initiative is poised to bring about meaningful improvements. The proactive approach of engaging various stakeholders and employing innovative tools to streamline campaign coordination is set to redefine the effectiveness of health campaigns in Nigeria.