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their state. The need for a similar administrative<br />

structure in line with OSSAP-MDGs should be<br />

created at state levels, with responsibility <strong>to</strong><br />

coordinate all DRGs-MDGs programmes and<br />

projects implemented in the State. Knowing what<br />

is going on in the state will facilitate the<br />

coordination <strong>of</strong> the march <strong>to</strong>wards MDGs, avoid<br />

duplication <strong>of</strong> resources and efforts, and bring the<br />

state authorities in<strong>to</strong> the stakeholders fold.<br />

Training <strong>of</strong> Skilled Healthcare Workers<br />

The above can only be successful if there is a<br />

deliberate policy <strong>to</strong> increase the number <strong>of</strong> skilled<br />

health workers available in the country. With three<br />

health-related Goals and others sharing healthrelated<br />

indica<strong>to</strong>rs, skilled healthcare workers are<br />

central <strong>to</strong> achievement <strong>of</strong> the MDGs. Policy<br />

should be made <strong>to</strong> increase spending on training<br />

and refreshing skills <strong>of</strong> healthcare workers,<br />

especially those that attend <strong>to</strong> the rural dwellers,<br />

as statistics indicate that most <strong>of</strong> the highly skilled<br />

healthcare workers practice in the urban areas.<br />

Improve Sanitation, Reforestation and Slum<br />

Dwellings<br />

The Federal Ministry <strong>of</strong> Environment should come<br />

up with new MDG programmes that will address<br />

bush burning, desertification and climate change.<br />

Programmes should also promote the use <strong>of</strong><br />

alternative cooking fuels (such as briquettes)<br />

through subsidies so as <strong>to</strong> discourage the use <strong>of</strong><br />

firewood. Policies should also be introduced <strong>to</strong><br />

address overfishing by res<strong>to</strong>cking the nation‘s<br />

water bodies with appropriate fish species. For<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> sanitation, all VIP <strong>to</strong>ilets should be<br />

sited where a nearby source <strong>of</strong> portable water is<br />

available. If none exists, a borehole should be<br />

drilled <strong>to</strong> accompany the <strong>to</strong>ilet.<br />

Water remains a critical resource in both<br />

improving livelihood as well as the sustenance <strong>of</strong><br />

health <strong>of</strong> the people. The efforts <strong>of</strong> providing earth<br />

dams and boreholes do not seem <strong>to</strong> eradicate the<br />

problem <strong>of</strong> water born and water related diseases.<br />

The annual occurrence <strong>of</strong> cholera out-brakes in<br />

parts on <strong>Nigeria</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> the slowing or<br />

outright s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>to</strong> the march <strong>to</strong>wards the MDGs.<br />

There is therefore the need <strong>to</strong> put in place a<br />

community-based water moni<strong>to</strong>ring strategy that<br />

aims at involving the community <strong>to</strong> identify health<br />

risks in the watersheds. This will help<br />

communities in improving the well being through<br />

watershed stewardship that will prevent this water<br />

borne and related disease outbreaks, thus<br />

eliminating cost <strong>of</strong> treatments.<br />

Advocate for Global Partners <strong>to</strong> Redeem<br />

Pledges<br />

Though Goal 8 is beyond the DRGs spend, the<br />

following actions can be taken <strong>to</strong>wards achieving<br />

it:<br />

OSSAP-MDGs should lead the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />

government <strong>to</strong> encourage donors <strong>to</strong> fulfil<br />

pledges made on the quantity <strong>of</strong> aid flows (0.7<br />

per cent <strong>of</strong> Gross National Income (GNI));<br />

Global partners should implement measures <strong>to</strong><br />

promote aid quality; reducing tied aid,<br />

increasing the grant element, enhancing direct<br />

budget support, and ensuring better targeting.<br />

The National Planning Commission needs <strong>to</strong><br />

play a more proactive role in coordinating,<br />

predicting, harmonising and aligning ODA<br />

resources;<br />

The reassessment <strong>of</strong> the new trend <strong>of</strong> rising<br />

debt pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> the country <strong>to</strong> ensure that we do<br />

not gradually revert <strong>to</strong> an unsustainable debt<br />

level;<br />

<strong>Nigeria</strong>‘s membership <strong>of</strong> the WTO provides it,<br />

in principle, a strong external trade policy<br />

Page 63 <strong>of</strong> 150

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