By Bolanle Davis
The Federal Government has approved the sum of ₦40.76 billion for the third-quarter disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and signed an agreement with Kaduna State to convert Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
The two initiatives are aimed at expanding access to affordable, quality and specialised healthcare, particularly for underserved and vulnerable Nigerians.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that the fund was allocated after the 16th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on BHCPF in Abuja.
The approved ₦40.76 billion represents an increase of ₦7.88 billion over the previous quarter's allocation of ₦32.88 billion.
The government also approved health insurance coverage for about 90,000 inmates of correctional facilities nationwide and plans to expand BHCPF support from 8,309 to 13,521 primary healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the conversion of the Kafanchan hospital into an FMC would bring specialised medical services closer to residents of Southern Kaduna.
Salako said the Federal Government would collaborate with the state government to upgrade infrastructure, improve diagnostic capacity, deploy specialised personnel and provide modern medical equipment.
On his part, the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, described the initiative as a significant step towards reducing the financial and logistical burdens faced by patients who travel long distances to access specialised healthcare.
Both initiatives align with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
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