Budget Transparency and Accountability Initiative Nigeria (BTAN) yesterday solicited for collaboration between civil society organizations and the CRS health team to achieve universal health coverage. According to Mr. Iniobong Ikpang this will be a huge leap towards achieving the SDGs in view of the fact that the there is interconnectivity between goal 3 (health goal) and other goals which CSO can help with.
Mr Ikpang also prayed for working relationship between BTAN and the Agency to better the health standards of the people. He noted that BTAN can help with monitoring of interventions in rural areas to ensure the are properly executed, accountability and transperence in budget implementation as well as advocacy to other interest groups(like government) which will ensure easy access to health care especially at the primary level.
“Our organization started in 2003 as an advocacy group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on public finance management and tracking in Cross River State with a sole aim of encouraging accountable public sector budgeting at all levels across all sectors through monitoring, analysis and advocacy.
He noted that BTAN has built effective relationships with Cross River State House of Assembly, Budget Office of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs with establishment of community vanguard against corruption and corrupt practices (CVACCP) in 8 LGAs.
Reacting, DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu said accountability in public sector is one of the key areas His Excellency, Senator. Prof. Ben Ayade has tackled since his assumption of office in May, 2015 through the introduction of State treasury single account were all MDAs are operating from. On corrupt practices, the State Governor by the grace of God is dislodging thousands of ghost workers in civil service through the biometric data capturing for all civil and public servants in the state. This process will help the Agency also as ghost health workers will be uncovered and gaps filled with right mix of staff to deliver health care to our people.
“I have heard from you, the Agency will incorporate BTAN immediately. The State Health Insurance Scheme which at the LGAs level is known as Community Health Insurance Scheme will equally be needing BTAN services from inception. According to Dr Edu, the scheme will enable low income earners to seek major healthcare services for free at point of delivery after a token amount has been channeled through a central purse. With your organization on ground, the process will have credibility, check and balances for Cross Riverians to be sure their money is safe said the DG.
We look forward to having a wonderful partnership with you. As the organization congratulated her on the well deserved appointment as first DG of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency.
