The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, says that the Federal Government will increase budgetary allocation to the health sector in the 2017 budget, in its commitment to improving the sector in Nigeria.
Mr Udoma made this known when the Regional Director of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, visited him in his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“This administration is committed to providing adequate fund for the health sector.
“We hope to upscale the budget for health next year compared to what is obtained in this year’s budget. Also we are designing effective policies to improve the sector,” he said.
While commending the WHO for aligning their programmes with government’s priorities, the Minister stated that healthcare provision was a top priority for the present administration.
He congratulated Dr. Moeti for being the first woman to hold the office of the WHO Regional Director and also praised her for fighting against diseases such as AIDS in Africa.
In an earlier speech, the WHO official commended Nigeria for its success in handling a number of diseases such as Ebola and also removing Nigeria from the list of endemic countries suffering from Polio.
She further solicited for efforts to sustaining the gains achieved so far.
“How Nigeria has successfully handled number of diseases like Ebola and Polio has been commendable especially in the area of preparedness, surveillance.
“We need to sustain the polio gain until totally removed,” she said.
Dr. Moeti said that WHO is pleased with Nigeria for identifying and making the health sector a top priority.
