Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission Holds Priority Setting Workshop

The Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission met in Abuja and online on 14 July 2022 to review priority non-communicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) and plan next steps.

Representatives of the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, NCD Alliance, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Environment for Health Development Initiative (E4HDI), Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Nigerian Cardiac Society, National Hospital, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, and the NCDI Poverty Network Secretariat participated in the all-day workshop.

After group introductions, Public Health Director and Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission Chair Dr. M.O. Alex-Okoh delivered opening remarks at the hybrid event. Official presentations began with a review of the Commission’s objectives and an analytic framework based on modeled data. National NCD Coordinator Dr. Dolapo Sanni and Deputy Director Diabetes and Sickle Cell Desk Office Dr. Alayo Sopekan of the FMOH led discussions on the Commission’s objectives.

NCDI Poverty Network West Africa Regional Advisor Dr. Emmanuel Mensah delivered a presentation on the priority-setting experiences of other Network countries. Dr. Damilola Oko facilitated the priority-setting sessions by describing the prioritization methodology and the final output. Multiple breakout sessions provided an opportunity for members to deliberate on what conditions to prioritize with a focus on severity, burden, and equity. After group discussion, Commission members aligned on almost 30 conditions to prioritize.  

The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Co-chair of the Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission and HSDF CEO Dr. Kelechi Ohiri. Dr. Ohiri emphasized the critical role of using national and local data to inform national priorities and policies and applauded the Commissions for their technical input and expertise.