NGO Calls For Improved Funding For Healthcare In Nigeria

A non-profit organization – the Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) and other stakeholders have called for improved funding of the health sector in Nigeria. They made the call at the two-years memorial lecture in honour of Brig.-Gen. Dr Victor Essiet, organised by the Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls, in Abuja.

Retired Maj.-Gen. Life Ajemba, former Director-General, Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, who spoke on the topic “The State of Healthcare Delivery and Health Care Financing in Nigeria”, decried the low budgetary allocation to the health sector, adding that it was below the World Health Organisation standard and also described the gross under-funding of the health sector as a ‘serious cankerworm’.

Also speaking, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, Founder, AEIG and widow of the late Essiet said that even after committing to the Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the health sector, past and present administrations are yet to implement it.

She further called on the government to come up with policies and strategies that would improve funding in the health sector.