Smart Advocacy for Improved Health in Oyo State

Advocacy Strategy Development for Sustainable Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, Elderly Health + Nutrition Programmes in Oyo State

Advocacy has been used as a strategy to achieve supportive environment evidenced by increased programme funding and sustainable governance that promotes equitable access to quality healthcare. Strategic advocacy driven by evidence that inform appropriate decision making and policy actions can be done at all levels of governance, including individual leadership and community levels. Advocates also can specifically build consensus with key stakeholders to generate public dialogue, garner social acceptance, policy support or political commitment to healthcare.

It is with this understanding that Sustaining Programs and Partnerships on Reproductive Health Transformation (SuPPoRT) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Division, facilitated a 3-Day workshop from March 29–31, 2021 for the development of the Oyo State Advocacy Strategy for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) Programme using Advance Family Planning (AFP) SMART Advocacy Skills approach.

AFP SMART Advocacy approach is a 3 phase (9 Steps) effective advocacy strategy development process which includes landscape assessment, developing of SMART objectives, tracking quick wins and validation of results using evidence and review of the landscape for change.

30 participants were actively involved in the implementation of the thematic areas that cover the RMNCAEH+N programme: Reproductive Health/Family Planning; Maternal Health; Newborn and Child Health; Adolescent Reproductive Health; The Elderly & Disabled Care; and Nutrition were involved in the workshop. The workshop facilitation was led by Mrs L. K. Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director, Health Promotion Division, Federal Ministry of Health. Dr Muideen Olatunji, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board provided the necessary leadership and support on behalf of the Oyo State Government.

The workshop focused on building the knowledge and skills of Oyo State Health Programme Officers on SMART advocacy approaches to produce a State-focused advocacy strategy for the RMNCAEH+N Programme in Oyo State.

An adequately funded RMNCAEH+N programme in Oyo State will promote improved access to quality universal health care and improved health, including reproductive health and family planning indices of the State.

More photos here.

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Sustaining Programs and Partnerships on Reproductive Health Transformation (SuPPoRT) is a six-month initiative funded by TJ. Mather in Oyo State and at the Federal level to provide continued technical assistance and institutional support towards sustaining Family Planning gains achieved by Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) over the last 10 years.