The Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Binyerem Ukaire has said that continuous education and behavior change are needed to improve public health outcomes.
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Ukaire said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria Learning and Transition event with the theme – “Celebrating Successes, Consolidating Learning, and Transitioning for Sustainability”.
The Breakthrough Action has been USAID’s global flagship social and behaviour change project for the past seven years.
In Nigeria, the project has worked to improve the practice of priority health behaviours across multiple programme areas including – Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), family planning, nutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19 and priority zoonotic diseases.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts between Breakthrough Action and the Federal Ministry of Health, she called for sustained initiatives to enhance reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition services across the country.
“Changing people’s behaviours, practices, and attitudes is indeed challenging, but it is achievable through serious efforts to improve their knowledge.
“Everyone aspires to be healthy, and often, the barriers to achieving this are rooted in ignorance,” she said.
She said that Breakthrough Action had made significant strides in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, including training health officers at federal and state levels to ensure sustainability of health projects.
“These efforts are crucial for achieving both national health targets and global goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage,” she said.
She stressed the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their health.
“Governments at all levels can provide support, but ultimately, individuals play a critical role in maintaining their health.
“It is essential for Nigerians to adopt healthy behaviours, take charge of their health, and reap the benefits,” she said.
The director praised the advocacy work done to educate government leaders at various levels, the development of information, education and communication materials, and the use of media to spread health messages.
“States must take ownership of these health initiatives to ensure the continuous improvement of public health,” she urged.
Furthermore, she called for ongoing education and consistent messaging to influence and reinforce positive health behaviors.
“We must continue to educate our people, encourage them to embrace the right behaviours and avoid conflicting messages from cultural or religious sources.
“It is vital to evaluate health messages and recognise their benefits for our well-being,” she said.
She reiterated the importance of sustained efforts in health education and behaviour change, supported by both government initiatives and individual responsibility as essential for improving public health and achieving long-term health goals in Nigeria.
NAN/Wumi
