By Sola Ogundipe

PRESIDENT Umar Yar’Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and  the 36 State  Governors are set to participate in the upcoming  Presidential Summit on Health  being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The event with the theme  “Accepting Collective Responsibility for Improving Our Health in Nigeria,”  holds in Abuja on November 5-6, 2009.

A statement from the apex  Health Ministry  said the summit which marks the first step in implementation of the health sector component of Vision 20: 2020  will be preceded by a pre-summit technical event dubbed “High Level Forum on Health MDGs and Related Initiatives.”

Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin will set the tone of the event with a keynote address entitled: “Health In Nigeria – A Situation Analysis.  The Presidential Summit  proper will form an agenda item at the National Economic Council of November 10, 2009.

Good Health Weekly gathered that the objective of the Summit is to engage Governors and obtain their commitment in  on-going efforts to meet the health needs of Nigerians and achievement of the 7-Point Agenda through  implementation of the Health Sector Component of Vision 20: 2020 by agreeing on critical issues that will further strengthen the collaboration between States and the Federal Government. This will position the States and by extension the Local governments to actively participate in the delivery of healthcare.

It was revealed that  the pre-summit technical session will be attended by three representatives from each  State including the Commissioners for Health and the Secretary of Health, FCT. Others include members of the top management of the Federal Ministry of Health, key officers of relevant MDAs (NPC, Education, Women Affairs, Agric and Water Resources, Finance, Budget Office, etc), Development Partners etc.

The expected outcome of the processes include a consensus and road map on the active collaboration and participation of the Federal and State governments in health care delivery.

A Partnership Agreement known as “National Health Partnership Declaration and Mutual Accountability for Measurable Results” which will reflect key and measurable deliverables within the health sector that will benefit Nigerians in the short, medium and long-term is expected to be developed.