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Nigerian Govt disburses N12.7bn health funds to agencies

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Nigerian Govt disburses N12.7bn health funds to agencies

The Federal Ministry of Health has disbursed N12.7 billion of the budgeted N55 billion one percent of the consolidated fund for health care fund.

Disclosing the disbursement on Thursday at the Association for Nigerian Health Journalists (ANHEJ) technical session and briefing, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba of the Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) said the money had already been disbursed as contained in the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

The fund, it was learnt, was disbursed on May 17 before the dissolution of the last cabinet.

It was also gathered that another tranche will be disbursed between now and September.

The breakdown of the disbursement according to findings shows that N6.5 billion (50%) went to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NLHCDA) got N5.8 billion (45%) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), N327million.

He noted that another 25 per cent has been allocated to the account of the Ministry of Health for further disbursement.

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“This money has been disbursed to the three agencies and more money will be disbursed till August and September. We are also informed that another 25 per cent has already been allocated to the account of the Federal Ministry of Health,” Garba said.

He requested the agencies to make public how they have utilised the releases for the benefit of the ordinary people.

Aminu said, “They are the gate keepers to the Nigerian people, so they have to tell us what they are using the money for.

“The money given to them should be used for drugs at the Primary Health Care (PHC) center, for immunisation, infrastructure development, live saving drugs for pregnant women and toilets in PHCs. It’s a big shame that most PHCs lack a good convenience for workers and patients.

“The money for NCDC should be used for emergencies preparedness for disease outbreak. So the heads of agencies should not complain about lack of funds.”

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