ABIA STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH PLAY HOST AT THE 59TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON HEALTH.

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Every year, the Ministry of Health, leaders of all the health parastatals, commissioners of health and their teams gather to agree and harmonise health policy for the Federal Republic.
It is the highest policy making body in the health sector of the country. So between the 23th and 27th January,  2017, public health sector leaders will congregate at the international conference centre, Umuahia, to deliberate on the progress in the Nigerian health sector and to chart a way forward.
The meeting which started yesterday with an interactive session and presentations from medical experts, is also a platform where the states and federal ministry of health, stakeholders in the healthcare sector, discuss issues bothering on the health sector.
During the interactive sessions yesterday;
*Memos were presentated by various states .
*Causes of industrial action and how to avoid it in the health sector.
*The implementation of two national health policies in 1988 and 2004 .
*Provision and utilization of evidence based gender sensitive response, poor and sustainable health services with focus on outcomes.
The National Council on Health is the highest national policy making and
advisory body on health matters in the country which has the honourable minister of health as the Chairman while the permanent Secretary of the federal ministry of health serves as the secretary, same implies to the state commissioners and permanent Secretary States ministry of health.
The national council meets at least twice in a year, it has power to regulate its proceedings, determines the time frames, guidelines and format for the formulation of the national and state health plans. The council is being advised by the technical committee of the council.
Duties of the NCH:
The National Council On Health (NCH) is responsible for the protection, promotion, improvement and maintenance of the health of the citizens of Nigeria, and  formulation of policies and prescription of measures necessary for achieving the responsibilities specified under this paragraph, It offers advise to the Government of the states and Federation, through the Commissioners, Minister, on matters relating to the development of national guidelines on health and the implementation and administration of the National Health Policy.
It ensures the delivery of basic health services to the people of Nigeria and prioritize other health services that may be provided within available resources, it  advises the Government of the Federation on technical matters relating to the organization, delivery and distribution of health services.
The national council on health promotes adherence to, norms and standards, and provide guidelines on health matters, and any other matter that affects the health status of people, it also identifies health goals and priorities for the nation as a whole and monitor the progress of their implementation.
It  promotes health and healthy lifestyles, it facilitates and promotes the provision of health services for the management, prevention and control of communicable and non- communicable diseases.
NCH ensures that children between the ages of 0-5 years and pregnant women are immunized with vaccines against infectious diseases, it coordinates health services rendered by the Federal Ministry with health services rendered by the States, Local Government, Wards, and private health care providers and provides such additional health services as may be necessary to establish a comprehensive national health system, it integrates the health plan of the Federal Ministry of Health and State Ministries of Health annually, also performs such other duties as may be assigned to the Council by the Minister of Health.
On Thursday 26th January, 2017, the governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu PhD  will officially declare the 59th national council on health open at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, by 10:00 am.
Yesterday’s meeting was the technical aspect of the meeting.
Join us today as the technical aspects of the gathering continues.