The Federal Government, through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, has disbursed over N20 billion for the funding of 4,362 primary health care centres across the 19 Northern states and FCT, Abuja, over the last two years.
This is according to a press release signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this during his presentation at the ongoing interactive session on Government-Citizens Engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, in Kaduna on Wednesday.
“In the past two years, over N20 billion has been disbursed to 4,362 PHCs across Northern Nigeria,” Pate stated.
According to the statement, the Minister mentioned the projects that have been carried out in Northern Nigeria, including the number of beneficiaries so far.
“In his presentation at the ongoing interactive session on Government—Citizens Engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, in Kaduna, the Minister explained that 274 projects have been executed across 35 tertiary hospitals in the Northern part of the country, serving over 4.5 million outpatients and 1.6 million inpatients.”, the statement reads in part.
The Minister posited that the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to improving national health outcomes is being matched with action, with the provision of health infrastructure across all levels of healthcare delivery nationwide.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a flagship health financing reform aimed at ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The funds are expected to be distributed to states, local governments, and over 10,000 PHCs nationwide through the BHCPF’s four gateways.
Since its inception, more than 7,000 PHCs have benefited from the fund, enabling them to deliver essential health services, procure medical supplies, and implement minor facility upgrades.
The fund’s impact continues to grow as it channels resources directly to healthcare facilities at the community level, bolstering Nigeria’s primary healthcare foundation and promoting more equitable health outcomes across the country.