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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 />
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