Involve private partners, experts in creating awareness over basic health funds among beneficiaries – Group

By: Monday Danladi Bauchi

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been urged to
involve private partners, experts and professionals that will assist in educating rural people on the benefits of the basic healthcare funds allocated to primary healthcare facilities across the country.

Such investment will ensure that the target audience of the funds were adequately informed on the various ways they will benefit and where to go to.

This was contained in a statement distributed to Journalists in Bauchi on Monday, by the Publicity Secretary of a group known as Watchdog on Leadership Development Initiative, Mukhtar Idris.

The group opined that the experts will help in tracking the amount released for each Center and they will monitor to ensure that real targets benefited from the programme.

It also wants the Ministry to show more commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other healthcare donations from international donor agencies .

According to the group, “The call for transparency and accountability in healthcare donations to Nigeria as recently seen in the media highlights a pressing concern. We read in national dailies, the calls for transparency and accountability by BudgIT Foundation, and one Dr. Yahaya Ibrahim, and was appalled by the situation.”

The group stressed that, “It is reasonable to expect that foreign aid donors, who are held to high standards of transparency and accountability in their home countries, would insist on similar standards in Nigeria.”

“In their home countries, these donors are subjected to rigorous oversight, transparency, and accountability. Any hint of mismanagement or lack of transparency would likely spark public outcry, rage, and potentially even withdrawal of donations. It will smack of double standards if donors are held accountable in their home countries for use of funds, and similar standards are not applied when donating to countries like Nigeria,” It added.

The group further stated that, “Transparency in funds management should be given serious priority. It is essential to have clear and regular reporting on the use of funds.There should be in place, a robust accountability mechanisms to prevent corruption, mismanagement, and embezzlement.”

“By upholding similar standards of transparency and accountability in Nigeria, donors can ensure that their support has a meaningful impact and benefits those in need,” It stressed.

The group added that, “The Basic healthcare fund which was established under the 2014 National Health Act, is financed through a 1 percent contribution from Nigeria’s consolidated annual revenue, alongside donations from development partners, with the aims to provide a basic minimum package of health services to all Nigerians, with a focus on strengthening emergency medical services in rural areas.”

The group however alleged that what the Federal Ministry of Health is doing is not enough, because it is true, majority of the people in the rural areas are not aware of how they will benefit from the programme.

The Ministry needs to come with more robust approach that will go to all nooks and crannies of the rural areas for basic healthcare service delivery, emphasising the need for accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the fund so that poor rural dwellers will benefit as intended in the law that establish the programme.

The group opined that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate must do more to ensure that the four gateways for the programme are responding to the healthcare needs of the common man as expected in the law that establish the use of basic health care funds,,

It mentioned the gateways to include: National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

According to it, “Accountability and transparency are the cornerstone and foundation of BHCPF to ensure that funds that are disbursed are utilised. The Ministry must initiate a series of activities not only in paper work but physical activities that will make sure that these funds are accounted for at all levels of the government. The funding is provided by an Act of the National Assembly. So, it is sustainable and funding is guaranteed. At least one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is available for these services.”

“The BHCPF is expected to address critical health issues such as maternal and childhood mortality, and will ensure proper disbursement of funds to local governments, it is also expected that BHCPF will give attention to maternal mortality, childhood mortality, and the basic health needs of the people in the rural areas, but please even you newsmen ask locals in your area are they aware of this? The answer may be negative,” It added.

The group further stated that, “We learnt that N32.9bn was released to 8000 health facilities across the country, the Ministry must come with accelerated initiative that will help to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s health sector and ensure that all Nigerians have access to quality healthcare services regardless of their location or economic status.”

It concluded that, “The Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health must take a giant step to ensure that the BHCPF was utilised efficiently and to galvanise the various sectors and stakeholders in health to focus on one goal, work together in one direction, and make sure that a combined efforts are greater than individual efforts, with specific attention to the BHCPF and make sure poor rural people have access to quality health care.”