By Mary Jalingo
The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) under the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) project has commended the Niger state government’s effort by increasing the health budget from 8 per cent in 2016 to 11 per cent in 2017.
FOMWAN/PACFaH National project Coordinator, Barrister Farida Sada Yusuf stated this during an advocacy visit to the state chapters of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Minna.
She said the Health Budget Advocacy (HBA) which is the new direction of the PACFaH project was aimed at supporting government at National and Sub-National levels to increase the 2017 health budget, especially the Capital Expenditure component which she noted is key to achieving Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians.
She noted that investment in the health sector was the buy in for overcoming the current economic recession, adding that when the health sector has more funds to provide quality and affordable healthcare services, citizens expenditure for health will reduced and there will be more money to invest in other sectors and their families.
She urged the government to ensure timely release and judicious use of funds allocated for the procurement of essential medicine as captured in the budget.
She added information available revealed that funds budgeted in 2016 to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for immunization activities are yet to be released.
The FOMWAN/PACFaH national project coordinator called on religious leaders to lend their voices to the issue of Child and Family Health, and educate their congregation on the challenges facing innocent and ignorant children and mothers especially at community level.
Responding, Reverend Mathias Echioda, the state CAN chairman said it was disheartened that funds allocated for immunization in the 2016 budget is yet to be released considering the fact that “children as the future of any nation need to be protected from vaccine preventable deaths.”
Reverend Echioda said government must more funds in the health sector to reduce maternal mortality.
He commended FOMWAN for their cross cutting role in the PACFaH project and working with other religious bodies.
He added that CAN will do all that is necessary to educate their members on the key areas of PACFaH projects.
Our correspondent report that a similar advocacy visits were also paid to the state Ministry of Budget And Planning, the Emir of Minna and the state chapter of Jama’atul Nasrul Islam (JNI).
