The Kaduna State Government has again earned national recognition for its strong commitment to healthcare financing, as members of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services commended the state for consistently allocating not less than 15 percent of its annual budget to the sector.
Led by Chairman Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, the lawmakers were received on Friday by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, during an oversight visit to assess the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Hon. Magaji praised Kaduna for not only meeting the Abuja Declaration benchmark but also backing allocations with timely cash releases — a move he described as proof of seriousness towards healthcare delivery. He noted that Kaduna ranked top among Nigerian states in health performance last year, especially in strengthening its human resources for health.
While applauding the state’s strides, the committee chairman expressed concern over the persistently high rate of maternal mortality across Nigeria, calling the situation unacceptable.
Responding, Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe — who represented Governor Uba Sani, reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to human capital development and maternal health. She lamented the needless loss of women during childbirth and urged lawmakers to consider the provision of specialized ambulances for hard-to-reach communities as part of national interventions.
She further commended the committee for embarking on an on-the-spot assessment of the BHCPF, stressing that such oversight drives accountability and ensures better health outcomes for Nigerians.
