FG to increase health budget in 2017

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it would increase the budgetary allocation to the health sector in the 2017 fiscal year  to address some of the challenges facing it.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, disclosed  this when the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, visited him in his office.

In a statement from the ministry, Udoma said the increased allocation by the government would help to improve the performance of the sector.

The statement quoted the minister to have said, “This administration is committed to providing adequate fund for the health sector.

“We hope to upscale the budget for health next year compared to what is obtained in this year’s budget. Also we are designing effective policies to improve the sector.”

While commending the WHO for aligning its programmes with government’s priorities, Udoma also stated that health care provision was a top priority for the present administration.

The minister congratulated Moeti for being the first woman to hold the office of the WHO Regional Director and also commended her for fighting against diseases such as AIDS in Africa.

In her remarks, Moeti commended Nigeria for her success in handling the Ebola disease as well as the eradication of polio in the country.

“How Nigeria has successfully handled a number of diseases like the Ebola and Polio has been commendable especially in the area of preparedness and surveillance. We need to sustain the polio gain until it is totally removed,” she added.

PUNCH.