The Lancet Nigeria Commission (3)

4 April, 2022

Neil thank you for sharing this post on Lancet commission on Nigeria.

We tried to join but the link would not work (and we have since heard from many colleagues who suffered the same fate).

We have read through the publication and it is useful that the authors have re-catalogued Nigeria's longstanding woes that have hampered the development of its health sector and system since independence in 1960 (such as lack of political will to implement any policies in any meaningful way; policy flip-flops; inadequate financing; lack of standards / benchmarks to guide appraisable practice; appalling / scary all causes morbidity and mortality; neglect of health workers welfare and well-bieng; and so on).

We are reassured that the commission found what we already knew for years, especially as far as the population prefering to see Traditional Birth Attendants (and indeed Traditional Bone Setters) than the skilled health workers, across the country.

The lack of a comprehensive whole sector and system approach to finding workable and practical, homegrown approach, that takes the peculiar context of a low income country like Nigeria, to these challenges is part of the problem.

We (HRI Global @ Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety - www.hri-global.org) piloted the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance programme in 2004, and have been stepping the programme down in states (such as Cross River and Bauchi) and private health facilities (such as Lily Hospital Ltd, Warri, others), specifically to provide the Whole system approach that is so vital.

Joseph Ana.

HIFA profile: Joseph Ana is the Lead Consultant and Trainer at the Africa Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety in Calabar, Nigeria, established by HRI Global (former HRIWA). In 2015 he won the NMA Award of Excellence for establishing 12-Pillar Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety initiative in Nigeria. He has been the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) National Committee on Clinical Governance and Research since 2012. He is also Chairman of the Quality & Performance subcommittee of the Technical Working Group for the implementation of the Nigeria Health Act. He is a pioneer Trustee-Director of the NMF (Nigerian Medical Forum) which took the BMJ to West Africa in 1995. He is particularly interested in strengthening health systems for quality and safety in LMICs. He has written Five books on the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance for LMICs, including a TOOLS for Implementation. He established the Department of Clinical Governance, Servicom & e-health in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Nigeria in 2007. Website: www.hri-global.org. Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.

Website: www.hri-global.com Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.

http://www.hifa.org/support/members/joseph-0

http://www.hifa.org/people/steering-group

Email: info@hri-global.org and jneana@yahoo.co.uk