Adewole Warns States Over Intervention Fund
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has warned Commissioners for Health in the North-east to carefully utilise $1.5m intervention fund. The fund is for health care service delivery in the states of the federation.
The minister gave the warning at a meeting with health commissioners during the operationalisation forum of the programme organised for the Commissioners for Health for Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and Borno, held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He explained that the funds should not be seen as public treasury to be feasted on. He said states are expected to account for the funds after the implementation of the said programme.
The federal government had presented a cheque of $1.5million each to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT in July to improve maternal and child health in their states.
Adewole said the save one million lives initiative gives room for practical assessment of health performance and determines whether state government would be able to receive more funds in the coming year or otherwise.
He added that if there is no performance, it means there would be no additional money to the state.
The minister urged state governors to allow states Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) manage the resources.
According to him, Primary Healthcare is closer to the people and therefore channelling the resources to PHC would enable the end users access the resources easily.
Adewole Leads Team Against VVF Cases In Abuja
The minister personally participated in the surgical operation to repair the Vesico Vaginal Fistula cases at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
The minister said he was delighted to flag-off the repair of Obstetric Fistula access through the Better for All Programme, a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) in collaboration with ISOFS.
Adewole, explained that the RRI Programme was borne out of the need to respond to the critical need of the people and deliver on the mandate of promoting health with focus on access, affordability and demand.
Incoming President of the ISOFS, Prof. Ogadosy Ojengbede said the project was a demonstration of the commitment and passion of the FG towards the people. He added that with the commencement of this project, the poor and the vulnerable can now receive treatment.
Also speaking, Dr. Habib Sadauki, the Country Project Manager of Fistula Care Plus Project under Engender Health (DFID funded project) who also participated in the surgery. He said that the fistula care project was implemented towards getting sustainability on the fistula repair project. Government direct involvement will help provide funds and commitment to ensure that the problem of fistula was addressed in Nigeria.
The Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr. Chinwe Igwillo, expressed optimism that the professional gynecologists have agreed to train more people on Fistula treatment at training centres located in the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan and National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
