By Muhammad Amaan
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria over the release of N68 billion for vaccine financing, and the deployment of N50 billion to settle outstanding arrears of health workers.
Commending the release via a statement, the Coordinator of Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, said the fund would be crucial in financing vaccines initiative in the country.
Dr Magashi, however, called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure proper accountability in the disbursement of the fund.
It would be recall that during the Expanded Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (ICC) meeting on immunization attended by Prof. Pate, the AHBN Coordinator, Dr Aminu Magashi had presented a collective recommendation on behalf of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); AHBN, VNDC, WAVA and (AFENET).
Dr Magashi also recommended that the ICC formally endorse a biannual CSO accountability reporting mechanism to provide independent review, track commitments, progress and offer perspectives beyond government, Gavi and alliance and partners.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, had on Thursday made the announcement released of the fund, during the 66th meeting of the National Council on Health in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to Prof. Pate, the N68 billion has already been credited to the account of the National Primary Health Care Agency, with the Central Bank of Nigeria set to process the funds for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The move comes amid ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage and strengthen primary healthcare systems nationwide.
The National Council on Health, a high-level governance body responsible for formulating and coordinating health policies across the country, brings together federal and state health leaders to assess progress and set strategic directions for the sector.
According to him, both the Federal and State Governments must use available resources effectively to improve the health and well-being of the population.
“From the Federal Government side, I have a lot of good news to share. For those who attended the Joint Annual Review last week, we got approval on Friday for N68 billion for vaccine financing to be released.
“Last night, the money was in the account of the Primary Health Care Agency, and today, the CBN will start processing it for UNICEF to receive,” he said.
Prof. Pate stated that the release is a tangible indication of the seriousness with which the federal government take health spending, ensuring that resources are increasingly becoming available.
“It’s not an inconsequential commitment, and I thank the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget for ensuring that these resources come through. Similarly, there were outstanding arrears from a couple of years ago for health workers.
The Minister of Finance was able to deploy N50 billion. I am highlighting this to show the link between increasing revenues and federal spending, and to urge all states to continue to mirror this by not only allocating additional resources but also deploying them where needed in the health sector. As we look forward, we expect faster progress in reaching Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage targets,” Pate added.
Present during the meeting were the leadership of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Federal Ministry of Health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Gates Foundation, among others.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that the CSOs were represented at the meeting by Dr Magashi of AHBN, Madam Chika Offor of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Dr Endie Waziri of the Afirca Epidemiology Field Network (AFENET), and Dr Chizoba Wonodi of WAVA.
