By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
Kaduna State Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmed, has expressed confidence that cash backing of funds meant for the implementation of health budget for 2024, won’t be a problem.
The Commissioner, stated this on Wednesday at a Breakfast Meeting for High Level Stakeholders on Health Sector Budget Advocacy tagged: Driving Evidence-based Advocacy for Improved Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) Services in Kaduna State organized by the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM), with support from Evidence for Action (E4A) MamaYe.
She disclosed that her ministry is already reaching out to all key ministries in charge of approvals, releases and cash backing and that with the level of discussions she is confident that cash backing of funds would be far better than the past years.
Umma, noted that, “despite the competing demands on our resources, I want to emphasize our commitment to prioritize maternal, newborn, and child health.
“The challenges we face are numerous, especially in the area of cash backing, but our dedication remains steadfast. We must find innovative ways to navigate these challenges and ensure that the health of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable among us, remains a top priority.”
She added that, “budget is a vital investment in the health and well-being of our people, particularly our mothers, newborns, and children. The commitment to allocate 15 percent of the Kaduna State budget to the health sector is a testament to our resolve to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services to every citizen of Kaduna State.”
The Commissioner, appreciated KADMAM for its dedication to the cause of maternal, newborn, and child health, saying “as an indigenous Civil Society Organization, your partnership with the Kaduna State Government has played a crucial role in promoting and implementing health interventions that have significantly impacted the lives of our citizens.
“I want to express my gratitude to all present here, and I am confident that our collaboration will pave the way for a healthier and more prosperous future for the mothers, newborns, and children of Kaduna State.”
In his goodwill message on behalf of Donor Partners, State Lead of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), Abel Adejor, said the meeting was timely and that it will go a long way in the implementation of the 2024 health sector budget.
Adejor, thanked KADMAM for putting the meeting together and bringing the key ministries, agencies and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward in cash backing funds budgeted for the health sector.
Earlier in his remarks, Co-chair of the Mechanism, Isa Gidado, said the essence of the meet was to solicit the commitment and assurance of the ministries in releases and cash backing of 2024 health sector budget.
Among demands made by the mechanism are for government to sustain the minimum 15% budgetary allocation and timely cash backing to the health sector in line with the Abuja Declaration.
That Ministry of Finance should ensure timely cash backing (actual) to the health sector budget for improved health services.
And that Government should ensure timely release and cash backing of the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and 25% counterpart funding to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) gateways to enhance more informal sector and vulnerable population enrollment in the contributory health scheme in the state.
