KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT TO GET 1.6MILLION (USD) GRANT AS SAVING ONE MILLION LIVES COUNTERPART FUND.

Prof. Isaac Adewole 

Nigeria's determination, through its Health Ministry to endure safer health of its people has seen the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole pursuing vigorously, programmes aimed at delivering on the promises of government.

Prof. Adewole, in a recent statement, has disclosed that the Federal government would disburse 1.6 million USD from the Saving One Million Lives(SOML) counterpart fund to Kogi State government  as ‘’an incentive  to do more’’ towards improving healthcare delivery in the state. 

According to Adewole, the qualification of Kogi state for the extra grant was as a result of the state’s government's performance and judicious expenditure of the previous 1.5m USD granted the state, last year.

Professor Isaac Adewole stated this at the Flag-off ceremony of ‘’Health Care Plus’’  intervention programme and the Unveiling of Delivery Kit, Post-Partum Haemorrhage pack and Hypertensive pack, held on Friday, January 26th, in Lokoja.

He called on other State governments to emulate the Kogi state government’s commitment  by investing in health programmes that touch their citizens’ lives and making prompt release  of their counterpart funding towards federal government programmes like SOML.

The Minister, in his speech, commended the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the impressive response, initiative and commitment towards the improvement of the well-being of the people of Kogi state, as demonstrated through the investments and several rehabilitation projects recorded in the health sector across the State.

Speaking at the event, the Health Minister said that the Federal government’s effort in combatting Lassa fever, was unrelenting as he hinted that the FG would commence immunization against Lassa fever in Kogi, Kwara, and Zamfara as pilot states. 

According to the Honourable Minister, the target, was to immunise 250 million people and the whole country in the next couple of years.

"Anybody with fever must be taken to have Lassa fever until proven otherwise. It is treatable if diagnosed early. The public must stop drying food stuff on the ground where rats can have access to and health care givers must take protective measures seriously’’, the Minister advised.

Executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in his response said that, the ‘Health care Plus’ project, with its Theme: "Building a Strong Political Will to end preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths in a dispensation" was launched to further stem the tide of maternal and child mortality in Kogi state because of the benefit the citizens stood to gain.

Governor Bello added that the project was also a fulfilment of the pledge made to the people when he came into office two years ago. 

He therefore explained that the launching was an opportunity to review government activities in the health sector with a view to improving on its performance. Governor Bello pledged not to rest on his oars until every citizen had access to good health delivery.

Speaking also at the occasion, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Saka Haruna, said that Health care Plus project was a programme targeted at responding to the needs of pregnant women from low socio-economic status at the level of primary health care as beneficiaries of free healthcare services from the day they conceive, till one month after delivery.

Dr. Haruna further explained that the package would create a niche for itself in Nigeria as it boasted of many positive uniqueness and peculiarities when compared with similar projects across the country.

The Kogi state Commissioner for Health also commended the Federal Ministry of Health for the formulation and implementation of policies that was steering the health sector to greater heights.