The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32 billion to primary health care facilities across the country, in a move aimed at improving access to basic health services and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The approval was announced after a meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee, which reviewed progress in the health sector under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the funds would be distributed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He explained that the meeting is held regularly to assess progress in the health sector and ensure that government policies are delivering results.
Pate said the N32 billion approved would go directly to health facilities to support service delivery, especially at the primary healthcare level.
“The resources that the Federal Government is disbursing through the BHCPF are getting to the facilities, and we also approved the disbursement of N32 billion to the facilities,” he said.
Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are the first point of contact for most Nigerians seeking medical care. They provide basic services such as immunisation, maternal care, treatment of common illnesses, and health education.
However, many PHCs across the country have long suffered from poor funding, lack of equipment, and shortage of trained staff. This has limited their ability to serve communities effectively, especially in rural areas.
The new funding is expected to improve services and ensure that more Nigerians can access affordable healthcare close to their homes.
Pate also revealed that the government plans to expand the number of facilities benefiting from direct funding.
According to him, an additional 5,000 health facilities will soon be included in the programme.
“We are on our way to expanding the facilities to add 5,000 more that will be receiving direct facility financing,” he said.
This expansion is part of broader reforms introduced last year to improve transparency and efficiency in how health funds are used.
Under the new system, funds are sent directly to health facilities, reducing delays and ensuring that resources are used for patient care.
One of the key areas highlighted during the meeting was maternal healthcare, especially emergency services for pregnant women.
Pate said the government’s policy to provide free treatment for emergency obstetric complications is already making a difference.
According to him, more than 40,000 women have benefited from the programme, which covers life-threatening conditions during pregnancy and childbirth.
“It is important to note that the reimbursement for complications of obstetric deliveries appears to be doing very well. More than 40,000 women have had emergency services reimbursed,” he said.
Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with many women dying from preventable causes during childbirth. Poor access to healthcare, high costs, and delays in receiving treatment are major factors.
The government hopes that free emergency services will help reduce these deaths and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Pate added that there is growing recognition that the policy is saving lives.
“There is widespread acknowledgement that the vision of the president to make treatment of emergency obstetric services free is saving the lives of women,” he said.
The minister also spoke about the government’s free fistula treatment programme, which has reached more than 4,000 women.
Fistula is a serious medical condition often caused by prolonged or difficult childbirth, leading to severe health and social challenges for affected women.
“The free fistula program is reaching more than 4,000 women who have had their lives reclaimed,” Pate said.
Health experts say such programs are important not only for treatment but also for restoring dignity and improving the quality of life of affected women.
On disease outbreaks, Pate said Nigeria continues to record multiple cases every year but most are quickly contained.
He credited the efforts of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for its surveillance and rapid response systems.
“More than 200 outbreak episodes were recorded in the last one year, but most people do not hear about them because they are stopped very early,” he said.
Nigeria has faced outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, Lassa fever, and meningitis in recent years. Quick detection and response are critical to preventing these outbreaks from spreading widely.
The minister called on state governments to strengthen their response systems and ensure the safety of health workers who are often on the front lines during such emergencies.
Another major achievement highlighted at the meeting was the scale of Nigeria’s immunisation efforts.
Pate said more than 102 million children were reached during the integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign conducted last year.
“It has never happened at this scale to reach 102 million children in Nigeria with preventive services,” he said.
Immunisation is a key part of public health, helping to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce child mortality.
The success of the campaign shows the potential of coordinated efforts between the federal and state governments, as well as international partners.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, stressed the importance of transparency in managing health funds.
He said civil society organisations would play a key role in monitoring how funds are used at the facility level.
“We are promoting transparency, stewardship and accountability with the robust involvement of civil society organisations,” he said.
According to him, proper monitoring will help ensure that government spending leads to real improvements in healthcare services.
Salako also addressed concerns about the safety of health workers, especially during disease outbreaks.
He said the government would continue to provide training and protective equipment to ensure that health workers can perform their duties safely.
“Some of these diseases are highly infectious, and we will continue to train health workers to protect themselves and improve their response,” he said.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is a major government initiative aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
It was established under the National Health Act 2014, which mandates that at least one per cent of the federal government’s consolidated revenue be allocated to the fund each year.
The BHCPF is designed to provide a basic package of health services to all Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Funding comes from government allocations, donor support, and contributions from the private sector.
The fund is managed through key agencies, including the National Health Insurance Authority, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee.
The approval of N32 billion for primary healthcare marks another step in the government’s efforts to reform the health sector.
While challenges remain, including funding gaps, infrastructure deficits, and workforce shortages, officials say progress is being made.
For many Nigerians, especially those in rural communities, the impact of these reforms will be measured by improved access to quality healthcare.
As the funds begin to reach health facilities, attention will focus on how effectively they are used and whether they lead to real improvements in service delivery.
For now, the government says it remains committed to building a stronger healthcare system that meets the needs of all citizens.