Nigeria’s
Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has decried the inadequate attention the
government is paying to health and the overdependence on foreign donors to fund
health initiatives in the country.
Mr. Adewole, who spoke at the Maiden Edition of
Health Communication Conference organised by Association of Nigeria Health
Journalists, ANHEJ in Abuja on Thursday, said despite the improvement in
budgetary allocation to the sector this year, it was still a far cry from
global standards.
“Nigeria is still far below the Abuja
Declaration, a commitment by the African Union Heads of Governments to ensure
that at least 15 per cent of National Budgets are allocated to the health
sector.
“In 2017, the Health Budget (Nigeria’s) is only
around 4 per cent of the National Budget.
“Though this represents a slight improvement
from around 3.73 per cent in the 2016 budget, the numbers are worrisome. This
would mean that only about N1, 500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred Naira only)
is being spent on the health of every Nigerian per year,’’ Mr. Adewole said.
He said no Nigerian should be deprived health
benefits as it was a fundamental human right that must be defended.
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