Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has disclosed that the federal government has approved the sum of N68 billion for vaccine financing and further reforms in other subsectors of health.
He made this disclosure at the ongoing 66th National Council on Health holding in Calabar, where more than 60 memoranda from different states and other stakeholders are being ratified.
He stated that this amount will be put to good use and invested in the health of the population as the government embarks on deeper health reforms.
“We got the approval for N68 billion for vaccine financing and other requirements. This sum is to be released soon. The money is in the account of the Primary Health Care Agency.
“And today, CBN will start processing that for UNICEF to receive it. That is a very tangible indication of the seriousness with which we take health. The federal government is increasingly making resources available.”
He added that there were outstanding arrears for health workers from a couple of years ago, which the sum will further help to defray.
He said the government expects faster progress in terms of reaching universal health coverage targets.
“We’ve agreed to move towards a sector-wide approach to improve population health outcomes, to improve the governance of the health sector, and to improve the health system so that it delivers efficiently, effectively, and at the quality that is needed.”
Pate further disclosed that no fewer than 60 memoranda from states and stakeholders aimed at reforming the health sector were received during the 66th National Council on Health, with the theme: My Health; My Right.
The minister said the council will deliberate and ratify all the recommendations and proposals.
He said that the technical committee of the council, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, and all the Permanent Secretaries, have studied the 60 memos.
Pate believes that the final ratified copy will ensure a very productive Council on Health, which will take far-reaching decisions for the next phase of health reforms.
He said that during the meeting, they reviewed how previously approved reforms have been implemented.
As part of broader reforms in two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, there have been visible and impactful results.
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