THE NATIONAL #COVID19 SUMMIT COMMUNIQUE
Theme: Pushing through the Last Mile to End the Pandemic and Build Back Better.
Venue: National Intelligence Agency Conference Room, Abuja
Date: 6th-7th December, 2021.
COMMUNIQUE
Preamble
The National COVID-19 Summit with the theme ‘’Pushing through the last mile to end the pandemic and build back better’’ held at the National Intelligence Agency, from December 6 – 7, 2021. It preceded by Technical Meetings held from Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th December 2021.
Participants at the meetings deliberated on priority policy and program issues that would enhance the coordination of the national response. The overarching goal of the summit was to review the COVID-19 response policy and program implementation from 2020 to date and make actionable recommendations for improved performance, coordination, ownership and sustainability at both the national and sub-national levels.
The Summit recorded over 700 participants attending in-person and virtually, drawn from all stakeholders involved in the national response and the international community. Notable among the participants were: the Senate President, FRN, Distinguished Senators and Members of Health Committees of the National Assembly; Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; serving Deputy Governors representing their Governors; Royal fathers; members of the PSC, Health Committee Chairmen from the 36 State Houses of Assembly, Commissioners in charge of Health matters from the 36 States and FCT, Office of the National Security Adviser, Security Agencies; Paramilitary agencies, Heads of MDAs, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Health and Economic experts, key players in the private sector of Nigeria, the Media, Civil Society Organizations; and Development Partners.
The Summit had the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, CON as the Special Guest of Honour who declared summit open. Key note speakers included Dr. Anthony Fauci, Medical Adviser to the President of the United States of America, Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, Africa CDC and Professor Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian Virologist.
Commendations
We recognize and commend the efforts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at all levels and acknowledge the continuous support provided by the Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders.
Observations
The delegates at the Summit also:
1. Applauded and appreciated the leadership role and guidance provided by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC).
2. Applaud the tremendous achievements of the PSC in coordinating the multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholders national COVID-19 response, leading to appreciable containment and mitigation of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
3. Appreciated the critical role played by the National Assembly in providing legal framework and financial appropriation that enabled the execution of the policies and programmes of the national COVID-19 response.
4. Appreciated the critical support and contribution of the private sector in providing technical, financial and material resources that greatly contributed to the successes achieved under the National Response.
5. Appreciated the support provided by the development partners and their contributions to the successes achieved under the National Response.
6. Appreciated the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), especially the National Economic Council (NEC) sub-committee on COVID-19 for providing the needed leadership and coordination at the State level.
7. Recognised that while coordination is strong, there were still identifiable gaps in governance and resourcing (human and financial) that must be properly addressed to end the pandemic and build back better from January 2022 onwards.
8. Recognised the need for the strengthening the Accountability Framework for COVID-19 Response and Health Security in Nigeria
9. Recognised the need for continuous and sustainable co-ordination of the multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder response to COVID 19 and national bio-security agenda
10. Recognised the need for the country to develop new strategies to identify and mobilize dedicated resources to end the pandemic,
11. Recognised the significant role for the private sector in bridging resource gaps on national health security.
12. Recognised the need for building the capacity for local vaccine manufacturing and ramping up of COVID 19 vaccination uptake in Nigeria.
13. Recognised the need to maximize the opportunities offered by international frameworks and treaties for effective resource mobilization to strengthen biosecurity in Nigeria.
14. Recognised the crucial role of Security agencies in epidemic prevention, control and national bio-security.
15. Recognised the need to explore and adopt global strategies for pandemic preparedness and response
16. Recognised the need to ramp up risk communication and testing in the country.
17. Recognised the constitutional responsibilities on health at all tiers of government and urged that there should be improved collaboration between the Federal and State structures particularly regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccination.
18. Recognised that Community engagement, buy-in and participation are key to ensuring that public health measures are adhered to.
Resolutions
Arising from the above and further to all the issues considered, the following resolutions were adopted:
1. In line with current global practice and recognising the persisting threat of COVID-19, the coordination structure under the Presidential Steering Committee should be sustained;
2. In view of the global experiences from the COVID-19 Pandemic, government should consider building a structure for the management of national bio-security
3. Considering the impact of COVID-19 on developing economies, which has worsened their debt situation, Nigeria should galvanise other nations to call for debt relief so that resources could be channelled towards building the national bio-security and improve access to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
4. The current level of engagement with the organised private sector in strengthening the health sector should be encouraged and sustained.
5. The “One Health” Strategy and the requirements under the International Health Regulation should be pursued vigorously.
6. Nigeria should galvanise the support of African countries in the collaborative process to end COVID-19 pandemic on the continent and build back stronger public health systems.
7. For impact measurement and effective evaluation of the national response, the collaboration between national and sub-national entities should be strengthened.
8. The capacity and numbers of human resources for health should be improved and strengthened.
9. The Summit urged that for improved partnership on Primary health care delivery and vaccination uptake, Government should strengthen the collaboration between the national and sub-national entities
10. The Summit agreed that going forward, the resolutions should be measurable with timelines to track and report on progress on implementation.
The Summit accordingly Resolved to unanimously adopt this Communiqué.
Dated this 7th Day of December, 2021.
Name: Dr. Aminu Magashi
Designation: Coordinator Africa Health Budget (for Coalition of CSOs)
Name: Pharm Frank Mounemeh
Designation: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (for the Private Sector)
Name: Dr. Betta Edu
Designation: HCH Cross River State (for Forum of Commissioners of Health in Nigeria)
Name: Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe
Designation: Chairman Senate Committee on Health (for the National Assembly)
Name: Mr. Boss Mustapha
Designation: Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19.
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