Chioma Umeha and LUCY SAMUEL
The White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRAN) has
commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for the disbursement of N12.7
billion a 25 per cent of N55.1 billion 2018 Basic Health Care Provision Fund to
the accounts of the three gateways.
The Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The Federal Government through the Federal
Ministry of Health announced on Friday, May 17, 2019, that it has disbursed
N12.7 billion (25 per cent), as the first tranche of N55.1 billion from the
2018 Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) allotted to Basic Health Care Provision Fund
(BHCPF) into the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
received N6.5 billion (50 per cent), the National Primary Health Care
Development Agency (NPHCDA) received N5.8billion(45 per cent) and
N327million(2.5 per cent) was received by the National Center for Disease
Control (NCDC).
WRAN is pleased with the release of the funds,
noting that this fund if implemented accountably can reduce the cost of health
care for Nigerians.
Commenting on the disbursement, Mr. Tonte Ibraye,
WRAN’s National Coordinator, said; “I am excited about the news and I strongly
commend the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for listening and
responding to the health needs of Nigerians.”
He noted that the release of only N12.7b which
amounts to 25per cent of the expected amount N55.1b is incomplete and
insufficient.
