FG approves N10b vital drugs’ fund for disaster victims 

Says 25m Nigerians received N25,000 cash transfer

President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N10 billion in Medical Relief Programme for the provision of vital drugs to those in need, especially those affected by flooding.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said 25 million Nigerians received the N25,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CTC).

Of the N10 billion Medical Relief Programme, N5 billion was released to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The Guardian gathered that 172 local councils account for more than 50 per cent of the maternal mortality burden in the country.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the coming Joint Annual Health Review meeting billed for November 6 to 8, 2024, explained that part of the fund had been deployed to provide vital drugs and relief to those in need, especially these affected by flood in Maiduguri.

According to him, without these interventions, the situation would have been worse.

He said, “The medical relief fund is also being used in the Know Your Numbers campaign targeted at hypertension and diabetes, especially the poor and vulnerable Nigerians, who don’t have. It is not enough, but at least it’s geared towards addressing issues when they arise.”

Pate, who acknowledged that Nigeria’s health sector was facing critical challenges, assured that the present administration was on a journey of transforming the health sector to respond to the health needs of Nigerians.

The minister noted that the meeting would provide an opportunity for sincere conversation about the health of Nigerians to present scorecards on key areas such as maternal and child health, access to primary healthcare, and progress in combating diseases like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

He recalled that Tinubu, about 11 months ago, signed the Health Sector Renewal Compact with the 36 states and development partners, adding that the administration was committed to improving the health sector despite the challenges.

MINISTER of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, while briefing State House Correspondents after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, enumerated the steps taken by Tinubu’s administration to provide relief for Nigerians, following the sufferings occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy and other policy reforms being implemented by the government.

According to him, five million households benefitted from the direct transfer.

He also disclosed that, in the last five days, no fewer than 11,000 beneficiaries received N3.5 billion from the consumer credit scheme.

Over N90 billion has so far been disbursed to half a million Nigerian students under the student loan scheme, he disclosed.