Health Scheme, MDG
Projects Get N9 Billion
More
than nine billion Naira has been allocated to the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) projects since Year 2008.
The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Mohammed Dogo, said a
project take-off grant of five billion Naira was allocated in
2008 while four billion naira was received in 2009.
Dr. Mohammed said about one point two billion Naira was returned
to the treasury, as excess funds out of the 2009 allocation. The
allocation to the project this year has not been ascertained.
He restated government’s full commitment to the project, saying
twelve states are now benefiting while it would be extended to
twelve more states between now and 2011.
Healthcare benefits
He said that the project had, so far, saved the lives of about
half a million pregnant women and children below the age of
five.
The NHIS Executive Secretary stressed the need for improved
collaboration among the three tiers of government as they strive
to provide quality health care to the people.
He suggested manpower development of healthcare personnel, to
ensure adequate professionally trained medical manpower in
Nigeria.
The NHIS boss was speaking in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria, during a
four-day inspection of health facilities in the six local
government areas benefiting from a project funded by the NHIS
and the MDGs office.
He said the visit was aimed at getting first hand assessment of
the projects, its challenges and prospects and chart a course
toward improving its implementation.
NAN/Williams/Yinka
