“We Increased Health Sector Budgetary Allocation to Over N340bn in 2018”-FG

• “We Increased Health Sector Budgetary Allocation to Over N340bn in 2018”-FG

The Federal Government announced on Thursday that it allocated over N340bn to the health sector in 2018 to tackle health challenges in the country.

President Mohammadu Buhari noted that the allocation was an increase from the N259bn pumped into the health sector in 2015.

He added that the FG took the action in an effort to increase life expectancy in the country by fighting a wide range of health problems, such as; the root causes of child and maternal mortality, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The president made this announcement at the commissioning of the Nigeria Air Force Reference Hospital (NAFRH) in Daura, Katsina State.

He said, “As you are all aware, the Federal Government has in the last four years invested so much resource in the health sector. To this end, the Federal Government has increased budgetary allocation to the health sector from N259 billion in 2015 to over N340 billion in 2018.

“Accordingly, significant strides have been made to improve life expectancy and reduce some of the killers associated with child and maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by the Year 2030, as enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The President also said that, although his administration has recorded several achievements, more efforts are required to end the large number of diseases and health problems facing the country.

“To achieve this, all hands must be on deck to focus on providing more efficient funding of the health sector, improved sanitation and hygiene, and increased access to medical care in order to save the lives of millions of Nigerians. It therefore suffices to state that there is no auspicious time to commission this Reference Hospital than now,”he said.

President Buhari further revealed that NAFRH would assist the Federal Government and Katsina State Government to achieve the goal of providing quality and affordable health care to Nigerians; adding that, the Reference Hospital would supplement available health institutions in the country.

“More importantly, the facility is poised to provide the much needed trauma care for personnel on active duty, especially those engaged in various theatres of operation. This will go a long way in boosting the morale of personnel as well as encourage them to give their best in the cause of service to our father land,” he said.

In his presentation, the Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique explained that the hospital; with Ultra-Modern operating centers, intensive care unit and modern diagnostic and life support equipment is essential for the treatment of severe health conditions, including the treatment of wounded soldiers.

He said,“The NAFRH Daura is a 60-bed hospital with two ultra-modern operating theatres, an Intensive Care unit, medical laboratory, Eye and Dental clinics and a physiotherapy department.”

“Other departments include: Special Care Baby Unit, Renal Dialysis, Ophthalmic, Dental, Maternity and Antenatal unit, Cancer Screening Centre, Accident and Emergency Unit, and a robust radiology department with complete digital X-ray, Mammogram, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computerised Tomography scan machines.

“It is equipped with modern diagnostic, life support and surgical equipment intended to provide an ideal facility for the care of critically ill-patients such as soldiers wounded in action. In addition, this facility will be utilised for the training of our medical staff as a teaching hospital for the NAF School of Medical Science and Aviation Medicine.”

He also revealed that to ensure the provision of health care to NAF personnel, their family members and host communities, medical centers are also situated in the following NAF units: Birni Gwari, Kaduna State; Agatu, Benue State; Doma in Nassarawa State and Nguroje in Taraba State.