We’ll Focus More On Primary Healthcare Funding – NGF

Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, on Wednesday, pledged to progressively allocate more of their state resources to primary health care through “efficient budgeting aligned to annual operational plans.”

They also pledged prompt release of the approved budget to their state’s primary health care boards, and primary health care facilities.

The Forum’s Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State gave the pledge at the forum’s meeting at the State House, Abuja.

Fayemi said the governors would recruit the required quantity and quality of workforce in all primary health care facilities in line with the minimum staffing requirements appropriate for their level according to each state’s minimum service package.

He said, “Following the induction to the Seattle Declaration by 36 governors of Nigeria in November 2019, the Nigerian Governors’ forum representing the 36 states of the Federation, hereby, affirm our commitment to strengthen the primary health care system in the country.

“We, therefore, adopt and confirm our commitment in line with the Seattle Declaration as outlined below; improving the governance of the primary healthcare system as a sub-national level by fully implementing the primary health care under one roof policy, and providing active leadership for primary health care through regular engagement with relevant Primary Health Care stakeholders, and quarterly Primary Health Care performance review at the State Executive Council meetings.”

“Promote a progressive increase in primary health care funding by ensuring efficient budgeting that is aligned to annual operational plans, promptly releasing approved budget to the state primary health care board, and primary health care facilities and ensuring that there is a mechanism in place for basic health care provision, fund implementation and oversight at the state and facility levels.