By Asma’u Ahmad
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has demanded that no less than one per cent of the country’s consolidated revenue be earmarked to improve primary healthcare service.
This was part of the resolutions of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja.
The Chairman of the Forum and Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, announced this to newsmen at the end of the meeting.
According to him, the decision followed the presentation by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on the malaria, Lassa fever and Polio pandemic in the country.
Governor Yari said that Prof. Adewole presented the situation of malaria, Lassa fever and polio in the country to enable the states and the federal government to determine joint intervention mechanisms.
He also said that the minister had presented the plan for the establishment of rural health centres in different parts of the country.
“He is eventually looking for the setting aside of one per cent of the consolidated fund of the federation for primary healthcare. On the issue of Polio, it is no longer news that we have outbreak which has set us back in Borno.
“And all of us can understand why in Borno because of lack of access by health workers. All hands are on deck and I believe the minister of health has explained to you the actions we (the federal and the states government) are responding to,” Yari said.
According to the chairman, various presentations and issues were raised at the meeting, which were deliberated upon, including issues of water resources development.
He said that the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, briefed the forum on a World Bank programme on water sanitation to enable the states interested in the programme to key in before the end of 2016.
He said the “World Bank programme will run like a Sustainable Development Goals programme from now to 2030’’.
Yari noted that states were already responding and would collaborate with the ministry of water resources for better water sanitation for the people.
