Minister for Health, Prof Isaac Adewole
A study initiated by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) has shown shown failures in budgeting for family planning by the state governments of Kaduna, Nasarawa and Oyo.
The study dicoveredthat Nasarawa state allocated N40 million
for family planning but released no funding from 2012 to 2014 when it released
only N250,000, according to Dr Adeleke Oluwaseun, programme manager at HERFON.
HERFON is among Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family
Health (PACFaH), a coalition of seven civil society organisation pushing
routine immunisation, family planning, nutrition and treatment of diarrhoea and
pneumonia.
In talks with Nasarawa state deputy governor Silas Agara,
Oluwaseun said the study also found shortcoming in "ensuring proper and
well defined quantification in states where a budget line existed for family
planning."
He cited data showing 21 out of 100 women of reproductive age
in Nasarawa want to plan their families but can't get contraception, 20% of
children stunted, and 14% of diarrhoea-related deaths and 11% of pneumonia
deaths--the highest among seven north central states, according to the latest
National Demographic Health Survey.
Oluwaseun said Nasarawa state needed to "balance policy
and implementation through adequate budgeting, allocation and release of
funds" to pay for family planning, nutrition, routine immunisation and
diarrhoea and pneumonia treatment.
Deputy governor Agara said the statistics for Nasarawa was
"an eye opener that required the urgent attention of the state health
managers to be challenged in addressing the issues and the need to proffer
lasting solutions."
He noted Nasarawa lawmakers and local government officials
needed engagement to support 100% implementation and operationalisation of its
Primary Health Care Under One Roof programme to address leaks in staffing,
adequacy and reduce corruption in the state health system.
He said Nasarawa was committed to ensuring that allocated
funding is released as budgeted but was hindered by low revenue and economic
situation.
Source: Daily Trust Newspaper
