Ondo ’ll access basic healthcare provision fund –Adegbenro

By Kemi Olatunde
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In an attempt to make more quality health care services available for the people of the state, Ondo State will soon begin to access the Basic Health Care Provision Fund(BHCPF) of the Federal Government .

 Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro disclosed this while speaking with The Hope  in Akure.

It would be recalled that the Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole listed  Ondo state as one of the states in the country which is yet to access the Basic Health Care Provision Fund which will enable states access the N55.15bn in the 2018 budget as one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the BHCPF.

While commending the Federal Government for the initiative which according to him allows Nigerians to access health almost free of charge, he hinted that the state government is putting efforts at ensuring that it meets the necessary criteria needed for accessing it.

The criteria according to him include Primary Health Care Under One Roof which is already in place in the state, the Contributory Health Scheme which is about to kick start, skilled manpower at the various primary healthcare centres and the provision of N100million counterpart fund which has been approved by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu saying “An account has been opened to that effect.”

He explained that the State Primary Health Care Development Agency will soon begin the process of recruitment into the system so as to qualify for the fund.

He added that the state, having met the required criteria will soon indicate expression of interest to the Federal Government in order to access the fund.

While reacting to a publication in one of the national dailies on poor funding of the state health facilities especially in the area of equipment, Adegbenro countered the report noting that government has been providing necessary equipment as and when due.

According to him, “About a month ago, the governor distributed medical equipment to not less than 300 Primary Health Care centres across the state and that was the second time of such distribution within a year.

He noted that the governor has also imported 20 containers of medical equipment from the United States which will soon be distributed after it has been cleared within few days.

The expected distribution, according to him will enable the various health facilities across the state to be well equipped so as to give in to accessing more qualitative health care services.

However, he reiterated governments  determination to continue to impact the health sector in order to guarantee an improved health for its citizens.