COMMUNIQUE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ON MAINSTREAMING HEALTH IN GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE

1. Introduction
Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a Nigerian Knowledge Institution, with support from USAID’s Strengthening Advocacy for Citizens Engagement (SACE) organised a two day Stakeholders Forum on the 15th and 16th of August 2018 with the theme of “Mainstreaming Health in Governance and Political Discourse” at Barcelona Hotel, Wuse 2, Abuja. The Stakeholders present at the Forum include 2019 Presidential Election Aspirants, Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The overall goal of the Forum was to get political parties and the aspirants to unveil their agenda for the health sector post 2019 elections. The specific objectives of the Forum include:
• Review extant health financing with a view to proffering strategies for Universal Health Coverage;
• Introduce the right to health, Universal Health Coverage and health financing especially on Maternal, New Born and Child Health into the mainstream of political discourse in the run up to the 2019 elections; and
• To have a closer look at political parties (and aspirants) manifestoes with specific and special focus on health.

2. The Discussions
On the first day of the discourse, two panel discussions were held. The first panel comprised of three (3) Presidential Aspirants and the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (ES NHIS): Jaye Gaskia of Praxis Centre; Tsado Mathias of Action Democratic Party; Omoyele Sowore of AAN and Prof. Usman Yusuf of NHIS. The session was moderated by Dr. Laz Ude Eze. During the session, the aspirants spoke on their plans for the health sector if elected as President. Issues discussed include: workability of the sectoral policies; improved data collection, curbing medical tourism; disclosure of health status of presidential aspirants/candidates (as it is in done in the United States of America); need to improve emergency services; childhood immunisation; eliminating strike actions and inter-agency rivalries; and biometric validation of health insurance enrolment using National Identification Number in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission.

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