Chukwu - Why Jonathan Is Yet to Sign Health Bill

Minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has explained that the democratic credential of President Goodluck Jonathan was responsible for the delay in signing the National Health Bill already passed into law by the National Assembly.

He made the explanation during an interactive meeting with management and staff of Federal Medical Centre Umuahia at the weekend, saying that Mr. President was such a leader that gives space to every opposing view on any issue.

"President Jonathan is the most democratic president we have ever had.That is why he has not signed the health bill. He listens to every complaint and analyses it. He is not making noise but fundamentally changing this country," he said.

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA HELD AT THE HONOURABLE MINISTER’S CONFERENCE ROOM 6^TH FLOOR FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH, ABUJA ON 1^ST APRIL, 2014

Preamble:

The 4^th Annual Scientific Conference of National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA) held in Houston Texas on 7^th – 10^th November, 2013 was attended by the Permanent Secretary (PSH), Director Nursing Services and Staff of the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry. One of the recommendations at the end of the conference was ‘to create awareness and campaign against domestic violence in Nigeria’. The PSH therefore directed that strategies to execute the recommendation should be developed by the Nursing Division in collaboration with NANNNA. The purpose of the one-day stakeholders’ meeting was to have diverse perspectives on domestic violence and to collaboratively develop the plan of action on creating public awareness on and effectively campaigning against domestic violence in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ meeting was well attended; participants came from: NANNNA, Legal Aids Council, National Human Rights Commission, Abuja Muslim Forum, National Association of Nigerian Nurses & Midwives (NANNM), Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN), International Federation of Female lawyers (FIDA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Daughters of Abraham Foundation (DOAF), Nigerian Police, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the PPP/Diaspora Unit and the Departments of Public Health, Family Health & Hospital Services in the Federal Ministry of Health.

Observations:

Various perspectives on domestic violence were presented by individuals and representatives of the different agencies from which the following were deduced:

                 i.          Domestic violence is a global phenomenon with far reaching effects on the health and socio-economic wellbeing of the afflicted and the affected; the victim could be male or female

               ii.          Statistics indicate that domestic violence is on the increase globally with increasing fatal consequences

             iii.          Domestic violence is a recurring problem among Nigerian couples in the Diaspora and the cause is traceable to socio-cultural issues

             iv.          Family and religious institutions are not supportive because they lack the basic knowledge, skills and resources to provide support and domestic violence cases are usually mistaken for marital conflicts 

               v.          Education on human rights and responsibilities of victims, neighbours and relevant stakeholders is  currently poor yet education is fundamental to prohibition of violence against persons

             vi.          There are some existing social, legal and government structures that can be strengthened activities against domestic violence e.g. National Orientation Agency, National Human Rights Commission, social welfare services, etc

           vii.          The role of health, social, educational and law enforcement agencies is critical hence the need for capacity building to provide relevant services and serve as trainers

         viii.          There is inadequate database on domestic violence in Nigeria hence the need for research and improved reporting system

             ix.          There is a Bill towards prohibition of violence against persons before the National Assembly

               x.          The high level of participation and commitment exhibited by the stakeholders is a demonstration of appreciation of the magnitude of the problem of domestic violence and the fact that the time for intervention is NOW

 

Resolutions:

Based on i – x above, participants at the meeting arrived at the following resolutions towards creating awareness on and campaigning against domestic violence

1. Nursing Division should prepare the report of this meeting and forward it promptly to the HMH for due consideration and approval
2. The plan of action indicating the activities and roles of the stakeholders developed at the meeting should guide interventions
3. The Federal Ministry of Health should coordinate activities by the stakeholder agencies
4. A committee domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Health to facilitate the activities should be inaugurated
5. Copies of the communiqué should be forwarded to all participating individuals / agencies and other identified stakeholders who were not at the maiden meeting to help provide feedback and initiate appropriate actions
6. Appropriate advocacy kits should be developed preparatory to proposed advocacy visits to Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, State Governors, etc. The kits should be modest and not boring, indicating the antecedents, the vision, strategic plan, conclusion and what expected from the person visited
7. NANNNA should include domestic violence prohibition activities in its Healthfare scheduled for December 2014 and July / August 2015
8. The Federal Ministries of Education, Women Affairs and Information, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), NAPTIP and similar stakeholders should be involved in the campaign

ACTION PLAN FOR AWARENESS CREATION & CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SN	ACTIVITIES	RESPONSIBLE AGENCY / PERSON	TIME FRAME	OUTPUT / INDICATORS	FUNDING
1	Development of IEC materials including jingles in as many local languages as possible; billboards; etc	FMOH-Health Promotion Unit; NOA; NHRC; FMWAffairs	Start now and conclude by 3rd quarter	% level of awareness among Nigerians Reduction in number of DV cases	Relevant MDAs International and Local development partners and NGOs                                                       Relevant MDAs International and Local development partners and NGOs
2.	Public enlightenment and education through workshops, seminars, lectures, dialogues, FGDs with focal groups – CBOs, traditional rulers, religious organizations, family units, health workers, etc	All relevant stakeholders – NOA; Nollywood; NHRC; NANNNA; Ministry of Women Affairs; NCWS; FIDA; NSCIA & CAN; NHRC	Start now	Number of workshops etc organized for various groups   Improved reporting of DV by victims and/or others   Reduction in cases of DV from 30 to 15% by March 2015
3.	Inclusion of Domestic Violence prevention issues in schools’ curricula at all levels of education	FMoE; N&MCN; NUC; NCCE; NBTE; MDCN; NHRC	Start the process now	Availability of DV content in curricula at levels by 2015
4.	Counselling of offenders / victims of DV and their children	Police; Faith-based organizations; Ministry of Women Affairs; NCWS; Nurses; FIDA; NHRC	On-going	% increased KAP on DV
5.	Reorientation of Nollywood against violent films etc	National Films Censor Board; NHRC	Now	Reduction in number of violent films produced by 2015   Increase in number of films to support prohibition of DV
6.	Capacity building through training and provision of support structures such as shelters; counselling centres; legal aid for the indigents; work-life balance skills development / support; etc	Daughters of Abraham; FOMWAN; FMOH; NOA; NHRC	As soon as possible	Number of people trained   Number of school clubs established   Human rights / counselling desks established in hospitals   Number of TOTs Number of Shelters provided
7.	Lobby the Judicial Commission and Chief Justices of States on speedy disposal of cases on DV and tagging of offenders in database	NANNNA; FMOH; NOA;FIDA; NHRC	Now	% of cases disposed within 3 months
8.	Lobby NASS on speedy passage of the Bill on Prohibition of Violence Against Persons	NANNNA; FMOH; NOA;FIDA; NHRC; NCWS; Ministry of Justice; NGOs	August 2014	Bill passed
9.	Research on DV in Nigeria	FMOH; N&MCN; NANNM; NANNNA; FMOE; NHRC	As soon as possible	2 Nationwide studies by 2015
10.	Increase penalty for offenders and send for mental assessment	Judicial Commission; Ministry of Justice; NASS; NMDC & NMA	As soon as possible	% of offenders charged by 2015
11.	Celebrate International day Against DV with greater coverage & impact	All stakeholders – FMSD	Annually from 2014	Celebration at grassroots
12.	Inclusion of DV prevention activities in annual budget and action plans of stakeholders	All relevant MDAs and stakeholders	Annually from 2015	DV prevention activities captured in 2015 budget of relevant MDAs