Tinubu approves N10b aid to provide medicine to poor Nigerians – News – The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the release of the $10 billion Medical Assistance Program to provide medicines to those in need, especially those affected by the recent floods in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Under the Medical Assistance Programme, N5 billion was donated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) respectively.

Meanwhile, 172 local governments account for more than 50 percent of the country’s maternal mortality burden.

The Coordinator of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing journalists on the Joint Annual Health Review meeting scheduled for November 6-8, 2024.

He explained that part of the fund was used to provide vital medicines and assistance to those in need affected by floods, especially in Maiduguri, adding that without these interventions, the situation would have been worse than what we are seeing now.

He said: “The medical aid fund is also used in the Know Your Numbers campaign, which targets hypertension and diabetes, especially poor and vulnerable Nigerians who do not suffer from hypertension and diabetes. “It’s not enough, but at least it’s about solving problems when they arise.”

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Pate acknowledged that Nigeria’s health sector is facing critical challenges but assured that the current government is on a journey to transform the Nigerian health sector and make the health system responsive to the health needs of Nigerians.

The minister noted that the review meeting will provide an opportunity for a frank conversation about the health of Nigerians, presenting scorecards on key areas such as maternal and child health, access to basic health services and progress in combating diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Pate recalled that Tinubu signed the Health Sector Renewal Agreement with 36 State governments and development partners, adding that the administration was determined to improve the health sector despite the challenges.

The minister noted that the government has implemented systems to track healthcare delivery outcomes and enable more data-driven decision-making.

He added that once baseline data is available, the government can measure improvements and track the impact of these reforms while ensuring accountability.

Stating that Nigeria’s first Health Status Report will be published during the meeting, Pate emphasized that the document will highlight the country’s health priorities.