Speaking in Calabar, DG Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA ), Dr Betta Edu said Cross River State will benefit from the $2million grant given to Nigerian Governors Forum by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for Primary Healthcare Under One Roof in Nigeria.
Dr Edu said the grant was to also help in boosting primary healthcare in Nigeria, would be spread over a period of three years between 2017 and 2019 with primarily focus on domestication and strengthening of primary healthcare system and financing for quality Healthcare delivery that will benefit the poor.
According to her the funders “The Gates Foundation recognises how critical the state of healthcare delivery will boast development in Nigeria.
She said the fund is to assist NGF to tackle two issues which were inhibiting the country. She identified the issues as insufficient IGR to support health and development, as well as investment, policies and political will for the building of the strongest primary healthcare system in the country.
“Nigeria is once again locked in a serious fight against polio, and it will not be successful without the support of the country’s executive Governors.
“Our Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade is doing a stellar job of regularly reviewing progress on polio and routine immunisation, which are the backbone of a primary healthcare system which brings benefit to all cross Riverians and Nigerians by extension.
“But more still needs to be done to keep polio and immunisation at the top of the country’s health agenda. To achieve these, the grant will go along way to boast health finance of Cross River State said the DG.
This information according to Dr Edu was contained during the meeting of Executive Director and DGs of State Primary Healthcare Agencies with Primary Healthcare Under One Roof in Abuja.
