Special fund for health emergencies under way, says Dogara

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday said that a special fund aimed at addressing emergency health challenges in the polity is under way.

Speaking when the Regional Director (Africa) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Matsidiso Rebecca Moeti, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, Dogara disclosed that the idea has received the blessing of both operatives of the Legislature and the Executive arms of government.

He said: “We had cause at the House of Representatives to engage ministers responsible; those who superintend over ministries and departments of government that their efforts could truly lead to diversifying our revenue.

“Now, obviously when that effort begins to yield results, there will be funds that we can set aside for the health sector. And we hope that in no distant time, that will be the outcome of ongoing efforts by all the arms of government, especially the Executive and the Legislature. So, if that one happens, we will be able to raise the budget but for now, we have to make do with what is available.”

Dogara, who gave assurance that the House of Representatives is committed to provision of basic healthcare delivery to all Nigerians, said this would go a long way in reducing poverty among the poor in the country.

Earlier, the WHO regional director, who expressed delight that the current government has given priority to health to ensure socio-economic development of the country, also commended the House for supporting the health agenda in the country and requested the lawmakers to sustain it.

She assured the legislators that WHO would provide technical support to the country’s agenda of health development in universal health coverage and some priority projects of sustainable development.

Besides, she said though Nigeria had been declared polio-free, there must be a sustained surveillance by states and local councils to achieve the eradication of the disease in the country and continent as a whole.