Nigeria’s National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSDP) was developed to guide to achieving Nigeria’s health envisaged outcomes for 2015. The development of the plan was led by the Federal Ministry of Health, mandated by the National Council on Health, and received input from a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners and civil society organizations. Subsequently, State level Strategic Health Development Plans were produced for each of Nigeria’s 36 States.What is a Health Strategic Plan?Health Strategic plans are usually developed every four to five years as national “guides” to achieving certain health outcomes. A health strategic plan mainly identifies and defines health outcomes that should be achieved at the conclusion of a four- or five-year period. It also outlines the strategies necessary to achieve the identified outcomes. It usually also provides guidance on roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.The strategy does not go into details on activities, which belong in operational plans. The strategic plan is, therefore, a document that guides a country or states, and not a blueprint for implementation.Why is a strategic plan important?Strategic plans are important as they:document the evidence on the status of health in the country;provide an opportunity to review learn from a country’s past response;identify key stakeholders and ensure their participation in program planning and implementation;set clear program priorities for the future;estimate the financial and human resources needed to implement a health strategy;enhance coordination—especially among government, donors and other providers of technical support;establish a results framework to measure performance.Where can I find the plan?The table below contain links to the States' plans 1.Abia10.Delta19.Kano28.Ondo2.Adamawa11.Ebonyi20.Katsina29.Osun3.Akwa Ibom12.Edo21.Kebbi30.Oyo4.Anambra13.Ekiti22.Kogi31.Plateau5.Bauchi14.Enugu23.Kwara32.Rivers6.Bayelsa15.Gombe24.Lagos33.Sokoto7.Benue16.Imo25.Nasarawa34.Taraba8.Borno17.Jigawa26.Niger35.Yobe9.Cross River18.Kaduna27.Ogun36.ZamfaraHow is my State performing against this plan?All States conducted Mid-term reviews against their State Strategic Health Development Plans. However, not all have made these available to stakeholders. These documents should however be accessible to everyone, so please ask representatives at your State Ministry of Health.The Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano and Ondo States have been leading the way in terms of transparency and have made Reviews against their Strategic Health Plans available. We have compared their performance as assessed in the Reviews to their targets as listed in their State Strategic Health Development Plans. Please find links to these summaries below: - Ondo- Bauchi- Jigawa- KanoWhat now? Please take action!GovernmentMake your Strategic Plan and Operational Plans publicly available.Make sure that you actively involve civil society representatives and other stakeholders to input into these plans. Request that they provide evidence on health and make sure this is used to inform these plans.Regularly Review performance against these plans (track performance against the targets as listed in its results framework) and make these Reviews publicly available.Make sure that data is collected against targets in the State Strategic Plan, so that performance against the plan can be measured.Use these plans to hold stakeholder to account for delivering against the plans.Use these plans to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders.Civil Society Organizations/Development partnersAsk Federal/State/LGA governments to make the Strategic Health Plan and Operational Plans available to you.Make sure that you are part of the Strategic Planning Process in your State. This can enable you to put key areas that you consider to be a priority for the next four/five years on the agenda of government and key stakeholders in the State. (Tip: make sure you come prepared to these meetings and bring evidence with you to make a clear case to policy makers to put your health priority on the agenda and into the plan).Use data in the Strategic Plan as evidence to advocate for action by government and/or other stakeholders.Hold government and/or other stakeholders accountable for delivering against the Strategic Plans.Make sure that you work in line with the priorities as identified in the Strategic Plan.
Nigeria’s National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSDP) was developed to guide to achieving Nigeria’s health envisaged outcomes for 2015. The development of the plan was led by the Federal Ministry of Health, mandated by the National Council on Health, and received input from a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners and civil society organizations. Subsequently, State level Strategic Health Development Plans were produced for each of Nigeria’s 36 States.What is a Health Strategic Plan?Health Strategic plans are usually developed every four to five years as national “guides” to achieving certain health outcomes. A health strategic plan mainly identifies and defines health outcomes that should be achieved at the conclusion of a four- or five-year period. It also outlines the strategies necessary to achieve the identified outcomes. It usually also provides guidance on roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.The strategy does not go into details on activities, which belong in operational plans. The strategic plan is, therefore, a document that guides a country or states, and not a blueprint for implementation.Why is a strategic plan important?Strategic plans are important as they:
- document the evidence on the status of health in the country;
- provide an opportunity to review learn from a country’s past response;
- identify key stakeholders and ensure their participation in program planning and implementation;
- set clear program priorities for the future;
- estimate the financial and human resources needed to implement a health strategy;
- enhance coordination—especially among government, donors and other providers of technical support;
- establish a results framework to measure performance.
- Make your Strategic Plan and Operational Plans publicly available.
- Make sure that you actively involve civil society representatives and other stakeholders to input into these plans. Request that they provide evidence on health and make sure this is used to inform these plans.
- Regularly Review performance against these plans (track performance against the targets as listed in its results framework) and make these Reviews publicly available.
- Make sure that data is collected against targets in the State Strategic Plan, so that performance against the plan can be measured.
- Use these plans to hold stakeholder to account for delivering against the plans.
- Use these plans to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders.
- Ask Federal/State/LGA governments to make the Strategic Health Plan and Operational Plans available to you.
- Make sure that you are part of the Strategic Planning Process in your State. This can enable you to put key areas that you consider to be a priority for the next four/five years on the agenda of government and key stakeholders in the State. (Tip: make sure you come prepared to these meetings and bring evidence with you to make a clear case to policy makers to put your health priority on the agenda and into the plan).
- Use data in the Strategic Plan as evidence to advocate for action by government and/or other stakeholders.
- Hold government and/or other stakeholders accountable for delivering against the Strategic Plans.