Inadequate budgetary release hampering realization of UHC in Bauchi – BASPHCDA chairman

SELYA YARNAP, Bauchi 

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed has expressed worry over the inadequate release of budgetary allocations to the  Agency saying it is making its operations very difficult.

He disclosed this during the Quarterly Health Financing Technical Working Group and UHC scorecard dissemination held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi, by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with USAID-IHP. 

According to him, such may be a hindrance to the achievement of the objectives of Universal Health Care (UHC) thereby calling on relevant CSOs to step up advocacy for a positive change of the narrative.

He added, “We need an advocacy to the Governor about the budget release, I have a lot of approvals, but the release has become a problem, it is a very big challenge in the budget and planning.”

“We also need to pay advocacy visits to the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Planning and the Accountant General. We need cohesion in this group. IHP, BAsam and others should advocate for budget release which has been very difficult and of concern, it is giving us many problems.

 “We have the budget allocation, but, where is the release, the highest for the Agency, we have 35 per cent, one of the highest in the State Ministry of Health every year, is that right? I don’t know whether the BaSAM has done something about that or they will come and tell us  another story.”

However, he applauded  the advocacy for a 15 per cent allocation of the total budget to the health sector in Bauchi state has been achieved saying that, “we know that it will be improved upon subsequently.” 

“Only yesterday, the Governor received an award given to the State by the organizers of the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge as the Best Improved Primary Healthcare Service delivery in the North East subregion and got the sum of 400,000 USD (N185.3m), he said 

Dr  Mohammed added, “But the sad thing is that they are going to tell us where to spend it. It is to be used to improve the primary healthcare services delivery across the state.

“Let me first of all commend USAID-IHP for doing great things in Bauchi state to boost UHC and the issue of accountability in the health sector which is very key to achieving the objectives of the UHC. I also want to commend BaSAM which is interested in health financing, I particularly commend the chairman for always asking questions about the budgetary allocations to the health sector,” 

“This very important meeting is always coming by BaSAM with support from USAID-IHP.  One thing that we are worried about the UHC, is the issue of contributory agencies not reaching to where they are supposed to reach, the funds are there in our facilities, PHCs, but the people are not aware that they should go and access them.”

He said that “We are still talking to them on how to do that through the community structure so that they will use that funding that is in our facilities to improve their healthcare, UHC is not a fashion, it is a thing that must be done.” 

“I told them that in the community structure in primary healthcare, the number one permanent structure is WDC and we have it in all our PHCs, 30 per cent of WDC must be women, as soon as the Assembly complete the amendment to the bill. At the village development committee, 30 per cent must be women, we are gender-sensitive,” he stressed. 

“We have about 6000 Mama2Mama volunteers, in each ward of the state, 20 women who can be used as Vanguards of achieving UHC, registered as vulnerable groups to access the care, we have 1,035 agents who can also be used by the registered people to access the care to which the contributory Agency is paying about in each facility, a lot of money,” he added. 

According to him “about N25m is available for the people in all our PHCs, but people are not coming to access the programme, with this, UHC will be a little bit difficult for us in Bauchi state, now.”

“Our media that are here, they are always acting as Vanguards to look into what is right and to do what is right. Please, if you see anything wrong, please, let us know, we are here to make sure that we improve healthcare delivery services, living conditions of the people, maternal mortality and infant mortality.”

In his address, State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe commended USAID for its various interventions aimed at improving the health and other sectors for development. 

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Idris Saleh Giade,  also commended the active involvement of the USAID agencies, IHP, State2State and Breakthrough Action Nigeria in the implementation of the various projects and programmes in the state.