Metro
KWARA targets foreign grants, approves N232m to fund primary healthcare
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has approved immediate payment of N232 million in counterpart funding for primary healthcare across the state.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, the fund would also cover up for health insurance and nutrition for under-three children,
The N232 million includes N100 million counterpart funds for Basic Healthcare Provision Funds (BHPV); N50 million for Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) and another N82 million to access global grants for malaria.
According to the statement, the counterpart funds for ANRIN will grant Kwara access to donor funds to boost the nutritional needs of children, in what is a practical step to end the menace of stunting and wasting among young children.
”The N82 million counterpart funding for malaria is to ensure that Kwara also benefits from Global Funds set aside by donor agencies to combat malaria.”
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It also noted, that ”Access to such funds will help combat maternal mortality rate and other basic health challenges related to women and children. Apart from this, the funds will help to fix facilities for primary health care and reduce the pressure on secondary and tertiary health institutions,” the statement explained.
UNICEF had decried the rate of malnutrition in children, all of whom it said were at risk of early death, or becoming liabilities to the society as they were unable to cope in school or contribute to economic growth.
”Experts have decried malnutrition rate among children in the Northcentral, where Kwara falls. Because these children are so key to the bright future that this governor envisions for Kwara, it is important to urgently key into any initiative that would boost their nutrition and give them a brighter chance at life,” the statement said.
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