The federal government yesterday warned the six North-east states against misappropriation of the $1.5 million intervention funds given for health care service delivery in their respective states.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isacc Adewole, cautioned Commissioners for Health in the North-east to carefully utilise the save one million lives funds given to them by the federal government in Abuja at the launching the programme, to enable them receive more funds in the second phase of the programme in 2017.
He explained that the funds should not be seen as public treasury to be feasted on, and that states are expected to account for the funds after the implementation of the said programme.
The minister gave the warning at a meeting with health commissioners during the operationalisation forum of the save one million lives programme organised for the Commissioners for Health for Bauchi, Gombe Taraba, Adamawa and Borno, held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Last July, the federal government presented a cheque of $1.5million each to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to improve maternal and child health in their states.
Adewole said: “Today I am to share knowledge with you on how you can derive maximum benefits from the save one million lives initiatives. I am impressed with your presence, however, I must say it clearly that the money given to you should not replace your budget for health, rather it is an addition, it is to augment, do not allow it to be the only budget for health in your state.”
“I hope we can still score you on your budgetary allocation on health, how much do you budget for health, how much do you release, how do you utilise it, how many lives do you save, how do you improve governance structure among others,” he stressed.
Adewole said the save one million lives initiative gives room for practical assessment of health performance and determines whether state government would be able to receive more funds in the coming year or otherwise.
He added that if there is no performance, there would be no reward and the reward is money, it means there would be no additional money to the state.
The minister urged state governors to allow states Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) manage the resources.
According to him, Primary Healthcare is closer to the people and therefore channelling the resources to PHC would enable the end users access the resources easily.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Haj. Binta Adamu Bello, said they organised the programme in Borno State to show to the world that peace has actually returned to Borno and the North-east in general which was a’ clear manifestation of great achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bello observed that ‘save one million lives programme result was a new strategy that have been employed to save lives of mothers and children and is in line with change mantra of the present administration. The programme has great benefits and multiplier effects such as accessibility and utilisation of high impact essential commodities and services to consequently reduce maternal and child mortality in Nigeria”. – Thisday.
