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Local Partnership for Development<br />

The implementation <strong>of</strong> the DRGs programmes and<br />

projects has become a veritable <strong>to</strong>ol for<br />

communicating sustainable development in<br />

<strong>Nigeria</strong> and more room exists for widening the<br />

partnership OSSAP-MDGs has begun in the last<br />

four years. OSSAP has shown that there is room<br />

for contribution by private sec<strong>to</strong>r, communities,<br />

and various levels <strong>of</strong> government and local civil<br />

society in working <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> meet the MDGs.<br />

However, before embarking on future MDG<br />

projects, needs assessment should be carried out in<br />

collaboration with the beneficiary communities.<br />

They should also be involved in moni<strong>to</strong>ring the<br />

projects during implementation and trained on<br />

their operations and maintenance. Private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />

organisations should be encouraged <strong>to</strong> participate<br />

in infrastructural developments and public<br />

advocacy for the MDGs. For example, waterfocused<br />

NGOs should be encouraged <strong>to</strong> participate<br />

in assisting communities in the maintenance <strong>of</strong><br />

hand pump and mo<strong>to</strong>rised boreholes, especially<br />

where the repairs are <strong>to</strong>o technical or large sums<br />

<strong>of</strong> money (beyond what the communities can<br />

generate) are involved. To achieve more value for<br />

money, DRGs funds should be spent as much as<br />

possible in the CGS model, which has<br />

demonstrated a capacity <strong>to</strong> widen the scope <strong>of</strong><br />

resources available for the MDGs. Engagement <strong>of</strong><br />

civil society groups in the implementation <strong>of</strong><br />

projects should be stepped up as this has proven <strong>to</strong><br />

ensure the success <strong>of</strong> the project.<br />

Greater Collaboration with Other DRG<br />

Funded Programmes<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> the challenges identified during the M&E<br />

can be solved by greater coordination <strong>of</strong>, and<br />

better collaboration with programmes designed <strong>to</strong><br />

achieve MDGs within OSSAP-MDGs. Reducing<br />

maternal, newborn and child mortality in <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />

for instance, is a complex task. The underlying<br />

causes are numerous and many <strong>of</strong> the potential<br />

solutions require interventions that go beyond the<br />

jurisdiction <strong>of</strong> the health sec<strong>to</strong>r. As an example,<br />

the challenge <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> infrastructure in PHCs can<br />

be tackled through the CGS and Quick-Wins<br />

programmes. The lack <strong>of</strong> skilled manpower can<br />

partly be tackled in the short term by synergy with<br />

the Midwife Service Scheme and the cluster<br />

system, both <strong>of</strong> which are being implemented by<br />

NPHCDA with DRGs funding. The manpower<br />

gap and mal-distribution <strong>of</strong> health workers can<br />

also be tackled by the identification, mobilisation,<br />

proper training and kitting <strong>of</strong> Traditional Birth<br />

Attendants TBAs <strong>to</strong> provide delivery services in<br />

PHCs under the supervision <strong>of</strong> health workers.<br />

The NPHCDA is very well equipped <strong>to</strong> carry out<br />

this aspect.<br />

The Forum on Evidence-Based Health Policy<br />

Making <strong>of</strong> The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Academy <strong>of</strong> Science held<br />

in March, 2009 with the theme ‗Reducing<br />

Maternal and Infant Mortality in <strong>Nigeria</strong>: Bridging<br />

the Gap from Knowledge <strong>to</strong> Action‘ underlines<br />

this interconnectedness <strong>of</strong> the problem. It linked<br />

maternal and infant mortality <strong>to</strong> poverty, absence<br />

<strong>of</strong> primary healthcare systems, poorly trained<br />

medical workers and lack <strong>of</strong> political will.<br />

The practice <strong>of</strong> appointing Special<br />

Advisers/Assistants or Focal persons on MDGs, or<br />

in some cases on CGS in the States, which with<br />

most <strong>of</strong>ten concentrate their responsibility on only<br />

CGS projects, does not augur well for<br />

coordinating the march <strong>to</strong>wards meeting the<br />

MDGs. Special Advisers, Assistants and Focal<br />

Persons appointed by states tend <strong>to</strong>focus only on<br />

CGS projects with no inclination <strong>to</strong> other DRGs-<br />

MDGs programmes and projects implemented in<br />

Page 62 <strong>of</strong> 150

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