FG Disburses N15bn to States for Health Care

• FG Disburses N15bn to States for Health Care

The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of the first phase of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund valued at N15billion to the State Health Insurance Agencies.

Available documents showed that 16 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, are expected to benefit from the disbursement which would be administered through three gateways namely, the National Health Insurance Scheme, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Out of the amount, a total of N6.5billion would go to the states and the FCT. They include Edo, FCT, Katsina, Yobe, Delta, Lagos, Adamawa, Kano, Anambra, Imo, Kaduna, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Oyo and Plateau states.

Kano state got the highest amount with a total of N948.4million, followed by Lagos with N672million. Katsina got a total of N636million, Kaduna received N552million, Bauchi got N530million, Oyo received N449million, Delta N394million, Adamawa N342million, Anambra N338million, Plateau got N337million, Edo received N301million, Imo received the same amount at N301million, Yobe got N270million while Ebonyi got N230million.

FCT received N118million while Bayelsa received the least amount at N116million.

The event which was held in Abuja on Tuesday was flagged off by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and Executive Director of National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Mohammed Sambo.

Ehanire, in his speech, said that the disbursement was made to states that had satisfied the criteria as of February 2019 and that more states would be included as the fund was necessary “for the provision of much needed health services to all Nigerians especially the vulnerable populations.”

He also said, “It is our plan and desire that this fund will be judiciously utilized by the benefiting states which will in turn reduce the hardship experienced by many Nigerians who daily pay throughout of pocket as a result of ill health.

“The Universal Health Coverage remained a top priority on the global agenda and an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals which many nations, including Nigeria, were pursuing vigorously for the benefit of their citizens.”