Nigeria Develops Health Commodity Supply Chain Strategy

From April 16 to 17, SCMS and the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT sponsored a national workshop in Abuja, Nigeria to develop a strategy for strengthening the health commodity supply chains in the country. A strong health logistics system is essential if Nigeria is to meet its millennium development goals and address the impact HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, and other diseases. The country’s priority health programs needs a dependable supply of medicines, laboratory supplies, contraceptives, vaccines and other essential health products that are available when and where they are needed.

Seventy-three representatives and experts from government agencies, development partners, program implementers and other health system stakeholders attended the conference in a collaborative effort to identify strategic priorities. Among the priority strategies identified during the workshop included:

 
• Improving skills in quantifying national commodity needs,  
• Improving the coordination of commodity quantification and procurement planning,  
• Developing public-private partnerships to improve the transportation and distribution of health commodities,  
• Harmonizing and standardize existing tools and protocols for supply chain management, and  
• Exploring the integration of certain supply chain functions

  Access the complete results of the strategic planning Workshop and two background presentations on supply chain activities and assessment findings, and on the National Drug Policy and Supply Chain Issues.