Health
Nigerian Government inaugurates Working Committee for healthcare provision fund
The Federal Government has inaugurated a joint working committee of the health care provision fund.
The Committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha on Tuesday in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
“The Fund was established within the National Health Act of 2014 to increase the overall financing to the health sector and to help improve access to primary health care services for all Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable.
“Specifically, the fund was to support the provision of a basic minimum package of health services to citizens; provision of essential drugs, vaccines, and consumables for eligible primary health care facilities; provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary health care facilities.
“Development of human resources for primary health care; and emergency medical situations, such as Ebola and COVID-19.
The SGF further explained that the fund was financed by the federal government’s annual grant of not less than one per cent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
He added that grants by international donor partners and funds from other sources also financed the fund in part.
The disbursement of the Fund, he added, would be 50 per cent for the provision of a basic minimum package of health services to citizens, through eligible primary or secondary health care facilities promoted under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“45 per cent would be disbursed through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to be utilized for the following: 20 per cent to provide essential drugs, vaccines, and consumables for eligible primary health care facilities.
“While 15 per cent will be for the provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary health care facilities.
“10 per cent for the development of human resources for primary health care, as 5 per cent of the fund shall be used for emergency medical treatment to be administered by a committee appointed by the National Council on Health,” he said.
The SGF noted that access to the funds would be contingent, amongst others, on the provision of 25 per cent counterpart funding by states and local governments.
He acknowledged that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the operationalisation of the basic healthcare provision fund (BHCPF) 2018/2019 budget with an appropriation of N55.1 billion.
Mustapha said in 2020, N44.5 billion was earmarked but revised to N25.5 billion (a decrease of more than 42.5 per cent) due to a shortfall in revenue occasioned by COVID-19 and oil price volatility.
The SGF noted that the 2021 appropriation bill recently presented to the National Assembly proposed the sum of N35.03 billion for the fund through statutory transfer.
He commended Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that quality basic health care service was delivered to the majority of Nigerians.
The SGF stressed that “It is also in alignment with one of the main objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan – investing in the Nigerian people.
“Furthermore, the BHCPF is critical to achieving Priority six (improving health, education, and productivity of Nigerians) of the nine priority areas guiding the policy directions of the Buhari administration over the years.
He expressed sadness that in spite of the President’s demonstrated commitment over the years, implementation of the fund had remained a challenge.
“Millions of Nigerians across the 36 States and the FCT, who could have been potential beneficiaries of the Fund remain without access to basic health care, six years after the enactment of the Act.
“One of the significant manifestations of the failure of the BHCPF to gain traction was the suboptimal state of our basic healthcare system when COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.
“More importantly, the Fund has been structured to impact on the poorest of the population by addressing preventable diseases and improving primary health care services at the grassroots.
“Therefore, the slow implementation of the Fund is fast becoming a missed opportunity for this administration to improve the quality of life for the 100 million Nigerians that should come out of poverty,” he said.
The SGF, however, expressed optimism that the committee would, as a first step towards establishing a proper stakeholder coordination mechanism, liaise with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms.
He said that their objectives would be to get the highest level of political buy-in for the implementation of the fund and to bring stakeholders up to speed on the status of the Fund.
Mustapha urged the committee to have a shared understanding of challenges and bottlenecks in the process of implementation and agree on recommendations as action plans to fast-track the progress of implementation.
He charged them to establish the need for the stakeholder coordination framework and other mechanisms to sustain momentum and submit a final copy for approval by the steering committee of reforms.
Earlier, in his speech, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr Dasuki Arabi, said it had been observed that several factors had been attributed to the slow implementation of the Fund.
He named gaps in the enabling Act to include silence on initiation, administration and governance of the BHCPF, weak buy-in from the states, low state of states’ readiness, and inter-agency rivalry.
Abari also said that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, one of three gateways for disbursement, was statutorily mandated with developing operational guidelines for the entire Fund.
He said that this potentially posed challenges with cooperation from the two other gateways, amongst others.
Arabi said that the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), had undertaken an analysis of the current situation of the Fund.
According to him, this was in order to uncover the underlying issues and seek a way forward for faster implementation.
He said that the analysis identified the major cause of the issues to be a lack of synergy and agreement amongst stakeholders on how to resolve issues and move the implementation forward for the sake of the citizens.
The Director-General also said the committee was constituted to provide an effective stakeholders coordination mechanism towards the actualization of the Fund.
Mr James Sule, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Office of the SGF, in his remarks, described health as wealth and good health promotes development for any nation.
He urged the committee to ensure that a good job was done to ensure that healthcare in Nigeria could improve and address shortcomings that lead to Nigerians leaving the country to seek medical attention abroad.
Responding on behalf of the inaugurated committee members, Mr Joseph Umaru, Federal Facilitation Manager, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, said the team would ensure that the best was delivered.
Umaru said the committee would work with the present administration’s desire to ensure that people, most especially those at the grassroots and the vulnerable, were carried along in developmental programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the committee were drawn from the public and private health sectors, NGOs with health practitioners, the House of Representatives and Senate committees on healthcare services.
Others were from the ministry of budget and national planning and ministry of finance. (NAN)
Headlines
Osun govt. to enhance healthcare delivery – Commissioner
Mrs Adenike Adeleke, the Osun State Commissioner for Federal Matters, has stated that the state was ready to advance its Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery for public well-being.
Adeleke made this statement in Abuja on Sunday at the end-of-year party organised by the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja.
She was represented by Mr Olukunle Alao, Director of the Osun State Liaison Office in Abuja.
Adeleke emphasised that the government was committed to providing more support to ensure healthcare services were more accessible to where people live and work.
She also highlighted that such services were part of the democratic benefits promised by the current administration in the state.
“Recently, our state received an award for being the best performing state in Primary Health Care in the South West. This demonstrates that Gov. Ademola Adeleke prioritises the health of the people,” she said.
She encouraged the association members to prioritise health to live longer, stressing, “Health is wealth.”
Adeleke also shared positive feedback from the public, noting that the people have rated the administration highly in health, infrastructure, and education.
“We must express our appreciation to our people,” she added.
She further urged members to protect their culture, language, and traditions by passing them on to their children.
“It is important for our children to understand that they are from Osun State, particularly our villages and towns. We should always encourage them to visit home once in a while,” she said.
She also conveyed the governor’s greetings to the association members on the occasion.
Mr Suleiman Olapade, Chairman of the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja, thanked the Osun State government for its support.
Olapade commended the executives and members for their efforts to uplift the association and urged them to serve as true ambassadors of the state.
He also encouraged members to intensify efforts to promote good governance in Osun.
According to Olapade, the objectives of the association include promoting the legitimate interests of members, empowering them through cooperative societies, and fostering mutual benefits.
In his address, Chief Omolade Adebayo of Tundunwada, Lugbe, Abuja, urged members to value unity, respect, love, and mutual understanding among themselves.
He emphasised that these qualities were crucial for the sustainability and longevity of any successful association.
Headlines
FG deploys 333 Truenat devices to revolutionise TB diagnostics
The Federal Government, with support from the Global Fund, has deployed 333 Truenat devices across the country in an effort to combat tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
Mrs Rita Akpakpan, Head of Laboratory Services at the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), disclosed this to newsmen on the side-lines of the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Akpakpan said that the initiative was expected to transform TB diagnostics in peripheral and underserved areas, significantly boosting case detection rates and improving access to timely care.
“Nigeria accounts for 75 per cent of the global “missing TB cases” and 70 per cent of missing DR-TB cases due to limited access to rapid molecular testing in rural and remote areas.
“The Truenat system, developed by India-based Molbio Diagnostics, offers a portable, battery-operated, and solar-compatible solution designed for point-of-care testing,” she said.
She said that Truenat had proven to drastically reduce diagnostic turnaround times while increasing TB case detection rates.
“This deployment will enable NTBLCP to test an additional 8,000 people daily, or two million more annually, helping to curtail community transmission and ensuring early treatment, “she said.
According to her, the Truenat device stands out for its suitability in resource-limited settings.
“The device is compact, rugged, and dust-tolerant. It operates efficiently in temperatures of up to 40°C without air conditioning and has minimal biosafety issues.
“This makes it ideal for Nigeria’s remote and high-temperature regions,” she said.
She said that the system could detect TB and Rifampicin resistance by extracting, amplifying, and identifying specific genomic DNA, providing rapid and accurate results at the point of care.
Dr Emperor Ubochioma, the Programme Management Unit Team Lead, emphasised the transformative nature of the initiative:
“This deployment empowers our healthcare system with advanced diagnostic tools that reach hard-to-reach areas.
“We are confident that this will significantly improve TB detection rates and treatment outcomes, reducing the burden of TB in our country,” he said.
He said that to ensure seamless implementation, Molbio Diagnostics and NTBLCP were conducting nationwide training sessions for end users, alongside the installation of the devices.
Mr Sriram Natarajan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Molbio Diagnostics, highlighted the significance of this effort:
“The deployment of 333 Truenat devices in Nigeria marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative diagnostic solutions to underserved regions.
“We are committed to supporting Nigeria in its fight against TB and improving public health outcomes.
Headlines
Malaria vaccine arrives Nigeria, Kebbi, Bayelsa take centre stage
The Kebbi State Ministry of Health in collaboration with State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), has inaugurated rollout of malaria vaccination for children from five to 11 months in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is being launched simultaneously in Bayelsa.
NAN also reports that the Dep. Gov. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, of Kebbi, flagged off the malaria vaccine immunisation exercise in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
Flagging the exercise, Abubakar-Tafida, lamented that malaria had been a significant challenge, “claiming countless lives and impacting the health and well-being of our communities.
“Today, we take a monumental step in our ongoing battle against this deadly disease.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine stands as a symbol of hope and a clear demonstration of our unwavering dedication to protecting the health of our citizens.
“Kebbi State has long remained committed to improving the health and well-being of its people.”
He said the present administration’s focus has always been on ensuring accessible healthcare, advancing medical interventions, and addressing the pressing health challenges that affect the communities.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine into our routine immunisation programme is a clear indication of this commitment.
“We recognise that the health of our people is foremost to the growth and prosperity of our state.
“This initiative is part of our broader vision to reduce preventable diseases, particularly malaria, and to create a healthier, more resilient population,” he said.
Abubakar-Tafida, also added that the introduction of the malaria vaccine was a game-changer in their fight against this disease.
“When combined with existing malaria control measures such as Seasonal Malaria Chemotherapy (SMC) and the distribution of treated mosquito nets, we are confident that we can significantly reduce the burden of malaria in Kebbi.
“With the launch of this vaccine intervention, we are optimistic that we can create a healthier, more prosperous future for our people,” he said.
Abubakar-Tafida urged the general public to take advantage of the lifesaving intervention, saying” the vaccine is safe, effective, and free.”
He stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that children, families, and communities were protected from the scourge of malaria.
“To our esteemed healthcare professionals and Traditional Rulers, your commitment and relentless work have brought us great success to this pivotal moment.
“Your efforts in ensuring the successful rollout of this vaccine are immeasurable. You are the front-line heroes in our fight against malaria, and for this, we owe you our deepest gratitude,” he commended.
The deputy governor thanked the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for their tireless efforts in leading the charge against malaria in Nigeria.
“I would also like to express our gratitude to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners for their technical and financial support towards this initiative.
“Your partnership is invaluable, and we look forward to continued collaboration in our quest to eliminate malaria and other communicable diseases,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Alhaji Yunusa Ismail, highlighted that the malaria had been one of the health challenges facing the countries for many years.
He added that other nations had tried and eliminated malaria completely from their countries, saying that there had been series of discussions by the stakeholders in the countries, including the governors on ways to tackle the menace.
“It was concluded that at the end of the discussions that a newly introduced malaria vaccine should be tried and piloted in Kebbi and Bayelsa state, hence the reason for the inaugural rollout of malaria vaccination in the state.
“The vaccination has commenced on this December and the exercise will continue till February, 2025,” he said.
Ismail called on the traditional rulers to partner with the stakeholders to eradicate malaria through vaccine.
Speaking on behalf of the Gwandu Emirate, the Focal Person of the emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, assured that the emirate would sustain its fatherly and advocacy contribution for the success of the vaccine set target in the state.
“The state is closer to Fadama and riverine areas, which add to the high rate of malaria alarming record in the state.
“We call on the general public to come out en mass for the vaccine and we thank the government and its partners for the feat,” he said.
Representatives of National Primary Heath Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Jamal Musa, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Nasir Zurmi, and UNICEF, Alhaji Isa Ibrahim, appreciated the efforts of the state government and transformative leadership of Gov. Nasir Idris, in health sector in the state.
They renewed their commitment to ensuring the eradication of child killer diseases, especially malaria, urging parents and caregivers to leverage the vaccine rollout for the promotion of the children health in the state.
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