The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in partnership with its stakeholders organized a two-day retreat from December 15 to 16, 2011. The retreat brought together key stakeholders under MoHS leadership to review and agree on key policy areas of focus in the medium-term as provided for by the country compact.

The retreat participants familiarised themselves on key findings and recommendations of the 2010 sector performance report; reviewed factors affecting delivery of quality of care and attainment of MDGs including human resources, medical products, infrastructure & equipment, service availability and recommended  strategies and key areas of interventions for 2012.

Having developed a unanimously endorsed country compact, a three-year rolling (2012-2014 Joint Programme of Work and Funding (JPWF)) health sector plan has been jointly developed by sector partners under the leadership of MOHS. It provides a comprehensive framework for aligning interventions to sector priorities linking long-term policies and development strategies (the National Health Sector Strategic Plan – NHSSP 2010-2015) and operational plans. The policy document is a vital component of the Ministry’s desire to attain: “one vision, one ministry, one direction, one plan and one boat” which embodies the Paris declaration principles of harmonisation and alignment.

As part implementation of the country compact, a Results and Accountability Framework for NHSSP 2010-2015 was also reviewed and endorsed defined strategies and detailed interventions as contained in the JPWF. This included the 2010 to guide monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of defined strategies and detailed interventions as contained in the JPWF. The review included the 2010 Sector Performance Report that details progress made, services availability and readiness status.

Participants from all levels for the first time deliberated and agreed on key medium-term sector priorities and strategies based on the NHSSP 2010-2015. Participants included all programme directors and managers; health development partners; DMOs; district and tertiary hospitals (state and non-state) representatives; chairmen and chief administrators of local councils; members of the parliamentary health committee; government ministries, departments & agencies, international and national  NGOs lead by MoHS top management team.

By the end of the two day’s meeting, health system bottlenecks were identified, major findings discussed; policy priorities and key interventions agreed upon. The 2012-2014 Joint Programme of Work and Funding; Result and Accountability Framework for NHSSP 2010-2015 and 2010 Sector Performance report were endorsed and health stakeholders declared commitment to support country compact implementation. All partners underscored the fact that the high level meeting laid a good foundation for planned scale up of interventions towards attainment of MDGs maximising partnership synergies to enhance efficiencies.