JiMAF calls for more budget releases for health sector

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Jigawa Maternal Accountability Forum has engaged the newly appointed special Advisers and Assistants on Health to Jigawa state governor Malam Umar Namadi to advocate the need for the state government to improve budget releases to the state health sector
The Civil Society has equally advocated for paradigm shift on healthcare spending, requested for more budget allocation to primary Healthcare sector than secondary and tertiary.
Speaking during the One Day Engagement organized by JiMAF and Sponsored by “Lafiya Project” a UK funded program, Comrade Isa Mustapha Sa’id, from 2015 to 2022 the sum of ₦ 163 billion was budgeted to the state health sector and ₦112 billion was spent.
“The sum of N65 billion was spent on salary and allowances while ₦46 billion was on capital project, with secondary and tertiary sector taken the lion share.
“According to the survey report ,75 percent of the death in the state are primary Healthcare related cases and 25% secondary and tertiary”.
“While for the year 2023 as we entered the last quarter of the year, the budget performance for health sector is less than 41% this is a source of concern “.
“With this indices and other related issues, there is need for Government to redesign it’s health policy and spending, a more concerted and robust approach shall be given to primary Healthcare sector to tackle the challenges, and also make basic healthcare services more accessible and affordable for all” Corrade Isa stated.
In his comment during the interective session, the special Advisers to the governor on charge of Ringing Emirate, Alhaji Isiyaku Sabo said, “we are newly appointed but we are not new with the challenges militating our health sector”.