JIMAF Advocates Improvement Of Budget Releases For Jigawa Health Sector
By Usman Mohammed Zaria
A Non Governmental organization known as Jigawa Maternal Accountability Forum JIMAF has engaged the newly appointed special advisers and assistants on Health to Governor Umar Namadi to advocate the need for the state government to improve budget releases to the Jigawa state health sector
The Civil Society has equally advocated for paradigm shift on healthcare spending, requested for more budget allocation to primary Healthcare sector than secondary and tertiary.
Speaking during the One Day Engagement organized by JiMAF and Sponsored by Lafiya Project a UK funded programme, Comrade Isa Mustapha Sa’id, from 2015 to 2022 the sum of 163 billion naira was budgeted to the state health sector and 112 billion naira was spent.
According to him, 65 billion naira was spent on salary and allowances while 46 billion naira was on capital projects, with secondary and tertiary sector taken the lion share.
” According to the survey report ,75 percent of the death in the state are primary Healthcare related cases and 25% secondary and tertiary”.
” While for the year 2023 as we entered the last quarter of the year, the budget performance for health sector is less than 41% this is a source of concern “.
Comrade Isa Mustapha further explained that, with this indices and other related issues, there is need for government to redesign its health policy and spending.
He said, a more concerted and robust approach shall be given to primary healthcare sector to tackle the challenges, and also make basic healthcare services more accessible and affordable for all.
Commenting during the interective session, the special Adviser to the Governor in charge of Ringing Emirate, Alhaji Isiyaku Sabo said, they will continue to partner with JIMAF, Lafiya Project and other civil societies in finding out the best way to improve public healthcare services delivery for a better society.
