FG launches health promotion strategy policies

The FG has urged households in Nigeria to adopt the health practices prescribed in a series of healthcare-related documents in order to reduce poor health habits in Nigerians.

This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on Monday at the presentation of the health documents, which are:

Revised National Health Promotion Policy (2019).

- The National Strategic Plan for Health Promotion 2020-2024.
- The Counselling Flip Chart on Key Household Practices.
- The Knowledge Management Guideline for Health Promotion 2020-2024.
- The Counselling Flip Chart on Family Planning/Child Birth Spacing.
- The Minister said that poor health habits are still common with most Nigerians and could be changed by adopting safe practices.

“The policy documents concur that health promotion is Nigeria’s means to reduce the burden of disease through behavior and lifestyle changes, but the reality around the institutionalization of health promotion does not yet support the contention.

“Going forward, we shall make diligent efforts to uncover challenges around health promotion and programming. We have developed policy and strategic documents that should see health promotion become a contributor to the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goal 3, and attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

“We must also realise that addressing the question of the social determinants of health and achieving health equity requires actions and partnerships, which stretches beyond the health sector.’’

What you should know

- The National Health Promotion Policy 2019 augments Nigeria’s Nigeria Health Policy by ensuring commitments to proper service delivery in healthcare for Nigerians.

- The National Strategic Plan for Health Promotion 2020-2024 boosts Nigeria‘s commitment to bridging the gap between policy and implementation, while Knowledge Management Guideline for Health Promotion 2020-2024 is a tool to guide the fundamental requirement to institutionalize knowledge management practices for health promotion.

- The Counselling Flip Chart on Family Planning/Child Birth Spacing would educate Nigerian households with the right information on safe family planning.

- While the Counselling Flip Chart on Key Household Practices seeks to empower Nigerians on the necessary skills and knowledge on simple practices that improve child survival and the health, growth and development of adolescent and the elderly.

What to expect

This will help to deliver preventive, curative, and palliative healthcare to Nigerians, bridge gaps between healthcare policies and implementation, while creating healthcare awareness in Nigerian citizens.