APC States pledge 15% budgetary allocation to Health

Twenty two states controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress APC have pledged greater commitment to healthcare services, allocating 15 percent of their annual budgets to the sector. The decision was part of a communique issued in Abuja at the end of a meeting of Commissioners of Health and Executive Secretaries of Primary Health Care Development Agencies of APC-controlled States on improving Primary Health Care Delivery in APC States.

According to the communique which was jointly signed by the Commissioner of Health, Kwara state, Dr Raji Razaq and Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, the meeting had held last Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. Part of the communique reads; “Following all the presentations and recognising the commitment of APC as provided in the party manifestos, the meeting resolved as follows “The need for APC States to align with Federal Government declaration of 15% annual allocation and release to health care services; APC States to undertake establishment of sustainable health care financing system such as health insurance and health emergency trust fund.

“APC States to domesticate Primary Health Care under one roof in line with Federal Government policy initiative under the National Primary Health Care Development Authority; Priority consideration to be given to Maternal and Child Nutrition in Primary Health Care Delivery Services; APC States to strengthen coordination of initiatives to fast track implementation of PGF Policy initiatives on Maternal and Child Health Services Delivery; Initiatives to revitalise Primary Health Care Services, beyond erecting structures but also guaranteeing sustainable funding of facility operations to be prioritised; “Public health care services should be data driven with the appropriate ICT;

“Undertake to strengthen regular processes of information sharing on issues of primary health care delivery among APC controlled States to facilitate synergy of initiatives and proactive responses; and COVID 19 response efforts, including immunisation should be sustained in APC States”. The meeting which was declared opened by the State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, also had presentations from the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo and the Representative of the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Abdullahi Bulama Garba.