Experts commend budget increase in capital health projects

As follow-up to a town hall meeting where Nigerians petitioned Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on primary healthcare development especially in rural communities, a campaigning and advocacy organisation, ONE Campaign, has commended the government on increase in provision for capital health projects in the 2017 budget.

However, while describing the development as progress, they urged the Government to invest more in the sector, specifically in primary healthcare in order to combat the health crisis facing the nation.

Edwin Ikhuoria, the ONE Campaign Country Representative said, “The increase in health allocations as announced in the budget is commendable. Putting more money into Nigeria’s health will not only boost the economy but would change people’s lives, particularly the poor, who are living in dire circumstances especially during this recession.”

According to Ikhuoria, only by delivering on the commitment and building a pathway towards spending 15% on health as promised in the 2001 African Union Abuja Declaration, will the Government be poised to end the health crisis needed to successfully “Make Naija Stronger.”

Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), a major partner of ONE Campaign, said that public health care investments remain a key ingredient of development, poverty reduction strategy and human capital development.
 
“To streamline the health sector, the World Bank gave this government $500m and the money was shared to the 36 state governors and the FCT. $1.5m was distributed to each of them, amounting to N400m. It might interest you to know that we have visited most of the states that have received this fund but sadly, nothing is happening till date,” Hamzat lamented.