By Stephen Adeleye.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has given approval for release of N100 million bond required for the state to access Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The governor disclosed this in Lokoja, at the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Introduction of Meningitis A (MEN-A) vaccine into the Routine Immunisation Schedule’ in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BHCPF was one per cent of the federal government Consolidated Revenue and contributions from donor grants set aside to fund the basic healthcare needs of Nigerians.
To access the fund, a state government needs amongst other conditions to contribute N100 million as counterpart fund.
Bello said he had approved and released the sum of N100 million counterpart fund required for the state to access the BHCPF from CBN to ensure quality basic healthcare delivery for Kogi people.
He added that aside counterpart funding, the state had also met other criteria to accessing the fund, including the establishment of state Primary Health Care Development Agency and State Health Insurance Scheme.
Represented by Dr Saka Audu, Kogi Commissioner for Health, Bello said the introduction of MEN-A vaccines into the state’s RI, was part of his administration’s efforts to protecting Kogi children against preventable childhood killer diseases.
He commended the NPHCDA, KSPHCDA, WHO and other development partners for their support and the wonderful initiative, stressing that it was inline with the new direction blueprint of his administration.
He stressed that the state had series of health programmes towards reducing the heart wrecking maternal, and child mortality indices which had made Nigeria to be ranked second worldwide in maternal and child mortality.
“We all know that Nigeria alone cannot end preventable child deaths, the reason we must be very grateful to our development partners for their collaborative efforts and achievements so far.
“Though child mortality is still at alarming rate, a lot of achievements has been accomplished in reducing preventable deaths among children and mothers”, he said.
The governor advised mothers to bring out their children to participate in the program which would be taking place across the state free of charge.
Dr Abubakar Yakubu, Executive Director, Kogi Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHCDA) said the agency was committed to ending preventable child deaths and enhance quality healthcare delivery to the people at the grassroots.
He defined Meningitis as ”Inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes, typically caused by an infection, usually caused by a viral infection but could also be bacterial or fungal.
“We are marking yet another developmental mile stone in our agency and the state to improve health status of our children through introduction of the MEN-A”.
He noted that meningitis vaccine was given to children at 9 months to prevent the disease, saying any suspected cases should be reported to the nearest health facilities as soon as possible.
“The vaccine has been researched very well, tested to be safe, reliable and free for all.
“I therefore, encourage our parents to bring out their children to participate in the routine immunisation,” Yakubu said.
(NAN)
