PATHS2 End of Project Dissemination of Implementation

Abuja, Nigeria, July 13, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​The camaraderie was high and infectious as colleagues working as change agents in the health sector in Nigeria met in Abuja to celebrate the accomplishments of PATHS2.

Speaking at the event facilitated as a knowledge fair and attended by over 160 development practitioners in Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health Linus Awute noted that PATHS2 has complemented the efforts of the Nigerian government to strengthen the country’s health systems, especially in areas of governance, improved transparency in budgetary allocation and management of funds. The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director for Planning, Research, and Statistics Dr Ngozi Azodoh added that PATHS2 championed development in health nationally and in the three states.

The goal of PATHS2 is to facilitate the efficient and effective use of Nigeria's resources to attain the MDGs through improving the planning, financing, and delivery of sustainable and replicable pro-poor health services for common health problems in specific states (Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos). Initially to be implemented from 2008-2014, the programme was extended until January 2015 in the three northern states; and July 2016 in Enugu and Lagos, working through Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen service delivery. PATHS2 is funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development and managed by Abt Associates, in association with Options, Mannion Daniels, and the Axios Foundation.

Representative of the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, and Director Planning, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa recounting some of the achievements of PATHS2 said: “I am happy to say as the Director, Planning State Ministry of Health Jigawa that for the first time a project looked at health systems strengthening holistically.” His statement was affirmed by the United Kingdom Department for International Development Head of Office in Nigeria, Ben Mellor who agreed that significant progress has been witnessed with inputs in the sector yielding positive results.

PATHS2 adopted the knowledge fair format instead of the traditional approach to dissemination to enhance interaction, learning, and overall experience of the participants. It offered a premise for the FMoH and national-level programmes to apply learning to agenda setting for the implementation of the National Health Act. It also advanced programme experience sharing to promote replication of best practices in other sectors (beyond health) and beyond implementation states.

Sharing experiences and lessons about what approaches worked and didn’t is pertinent as Nigeria transits in leadership, and the nation’s health system transits its plans and policies. The implementation of the National Strategic Health Development Plan (2010 – 2015) and the Health Policy are both being reviewed as precursors to the next editions. Meanwhile, implementation plans are underway for the National Health Act.

The objective of the event underscores the importance of government sustaining initiatives that contribute to the provision of quality healthcare services and reduction of maternal and infant mortality indices, reiterated PATHS2 National Programme Manager, Mike Egboh.

The event held at the Rockview Hotel Royale on 25 June, and was graced by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Shonga Dr Haliru Yahaya, the FMoH, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos SMoHs, DFID, United States Agency for International Development, World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Development Agency, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a host of other development partners, and high-ranking individuals from other health-related organisations in Nigeria.

The PATHS2 project represents significant human and financial investment in health systems strengthening, and facilitates a vast array of initiatives which has yielded varied results. Funded by UKaid and implemented in partnership with the Government of Nigeria, the PATHS2 programme has since 2008 employed innovative approaches to improve health care outcomes. These strategic approaches combine strengthening of health governance and management systems, delivery of pro-poor maternal, new-born and child health services, and enhancing responsiveness of health systems to priority needs based on citizens’ perspectives.