By Ndidi Chukwu
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Executive Director, Dr. Ado Muhammad has commended Bauchi State and Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar for allocating 15% of the total 2016 budget of the state to health.
The Executive Director who made this commendation in a telephone interview with Health Reporters correspondent Ndidi Chukwu indicated that the governor has been able to set the record as the first state in Nigeria to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration which mandates African Countries to allocate at least 15% of their annual budget to health.
Dr Ado also expressed optimism that more lives will be saved in Bauchi State with the huge budget the state has allocated to health.
“this is great and commendable, it indicates the commitment of the state to save more lives” the NPHCDA boss told Health Reporters in a telephone interview.
Dr Ado however urged to Bauchi State Governor to ensure early release of the appropriated budget for health, to ensure the health target in the state is met, his comment, “the governor should be encouraged to match the appropriation with funds release, I guarantee you more lives will be saved in Bauchi State”
Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State on the 6th of January allocated fifteen (15) per cent of the state total budget to health sector. The governor presented a budget proposal of N135.3 billion for the 2016 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for appropriation. He also explained that the budget is made up of N65, 498, 008, 456 b as recurrent expenditure and N69, 805, 091, 554b as capital expenditure for the 2016 fiscal year.
Governor Abubakar emphasized that 15 per cent of the 2016 budget is set aside so as to ensure quality health care delivery system and programmes.
Presenting the budget proposal to the State House of Assembly, he added that his administration will give priority to training and retraining of health workers and recruitment of additional and qualified ones in some critical areas.
According to him, “efforts will be made to improve and strengthen functional health services, projects in the health sector which includes purchase of health and medical equipment, constructions and rehabilitation of hospitals and health centres in all senatorial areas and procurement of drugs and medical equipment’s”
The governor during his budget presentation had highlighted that his administration is determined to providing effective and efficient service delivery and appealed to the lawmakers to expedite action, consider and pass the 2016 budget to enable the government implement the budgeted programmes and projects that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the electorates.
