AFRICARE-WHICO - Press Release

"Our goal is to operate a quality, accessible, and sustainable system for these communities," stated the president. "A coordinated approach to service delivery and increasing the health of the population will set us in the right direction."

The directions outlined in this plan are a result of extensive need assessment and consultation with key stakeholders. One of the key contributing processes was our medical mission in 2004 where we provided free clinics and medicines to many rural communities in Eastern part of Nigeria. This consultation process brought together many stakeholders and resulted in significant feedback for the development of the strategic health plan.

President Izuchukwu explained that throughout the development of the strategic health plan, AFRICARE-WHICO worked with the local communities as well as the health agencies and other NGO organizations. "These healthcare providers play an integral role in providing quality health and community services in rural Nigeria, and we will continue to work together as we move forward with the plan," he said.

Prof Ifeoma Izuchukwu, the vice president and chief medical director of AFRICARE-WHICO said the health agencies and governments endorse Healthier Nigeria, and are committed to working towards the strategic goals outlined in the plan as priorities for the health system. "Health institutions are very supportive of the three major long-term goals of the strategic health intervention plan, and we look forward to working with government and the health system on the implementation of that plan."

Healthier Nigeria outlines a proactive approach to health and well-being. It emphasizes the importance of adopting healthy attitudes and behaviors that lead to improved health, and illness and injury prevention.

"Rural Nigeria rank among the highest in the country for the risk factors of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption - all of which are connected to chronic disease," said President Izuchukwu. "This is astounding since many of the factors that place our population in peril are risks that can be avoided through a change in attitude and behavior."

A AFRICARE-WHICO Wellness Advisory Committee will be established to oversee the development and implementation of a wellness strategy. This committee will focus on initiatives that promote and protect health, prevent illness and injury, promote the healthy development of children and youth, and build healthy communities.

The AFRICARE-WHICO actions outlined in the plan support the idea that community-based wellness initiatives will provide opportunities for individuals and families to attain increased health and well-being. The strategic health intervention plan highlights the need to encourage community partnerships which will help foster individual responsibility for healthy living.
The strategic health intervention plan outlines a new model for delivering primary health care services. A Community Primary Health Care Advisory Committee, consisting of key stakeholders, will be established to oversee the development of a community plan for primary health care.

"We recognize that the first level of contact citizens have with the health and community services system contributes significantly to the way in which people manage their health," said President Izuchukwu. "Therefore, it is imperative that this level of care become the focal point of the system." The plan also outlines the need to realign the location of services throughout the communities and identifies the basic elements that will be adopted by the system for determining how and where services should be located. Further work will be conducted in this area before final decisions on the location of services can be made. Additionally, Healthier Nigeria identifies the mental health and long-term care sectors as areas that need further work. Strategies for each of these sectors will be developed through further consultation with stakeholder groups.

We are aware that government is committed to ensuring the people of rural Nigeria and the entire nation have a quality, accessible, and sustainable health and community services system. Without the full support of all partners, together with reinforcing policies and programs, the system will not be able to truly move from an illness model to one which achieves wellness.

"While the government has a responsibility to ensure the proper supports are in place to contribute to the health and well-being of the population," said President Izuchukwu, "it is also important for us, as individuals and nongovernmental agencies to realize the role we play. At every stage of care, we are a partner in our own health. "Working together we will renew the system to meet the needs of the people of these communities. Healthier Nigeria focuses on the importance of partnering. Partnering for quality. Partnering for sustainability. Partnering for health," he concluded.

For a copy of Healthier Nigeria: A Strategic Health Intervention Plan for Nigeria, please contact the communications dept at 0804 545-2162 or visit the web site at www.worldhealthinitiative/ /health/strategichealthplan . Media contact: Joni Icheka Esq. Communications 0804-545-2152 or 0803-355-6581

AFRICARE-WHICO - Providing Healthcare System that is:
People-Centered, Accessible, Affordable, Equitable, Quality and Sustainable to the rural medically underserved poor communities in Africa