By Sule ALIYU, Bauchi
Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Newborn Health (BASAM) has called on the state government to release the full funds earmarked to the health sector in its 2017 budget to facilitate the timely implementation of the various maternal health programmes aimed at saving the lives of women and children in the state.
The BaSAM state Secretary, Mr Abu John made this call during a media round table organized by the Non Governmental Organization to review and analyze the Bauchi state 2016 health budget scorecard.
He lauded the state government for allocating 15 percent of its income to the health sector in its proposed budget which according to him was the highest in the whole country.
”Data indicates that the Bauchi state government is making some progress in stakeholder/CSO participation in budget process, but the state can do better in other areas. BaSAM therefore calls on the Bauchi State government to ensure timely release of funds, participation of communities in the annual budget process and release of over 70 percent of the capital budget”, he appealed.
The NGO also commended Governor Mohammed Abubakar ‘for taking into cognizance the annual sponsorship of Routine immunization ( R.I) by releasing 75 percent funding in line with government’s projections and agreements signed with development partners on Routine immunization in the state.
This is just as he requested the state government to create a dedicated routine immunization budget code in the state’s annual budget for health instead of MoU for easy budget tracking and accountability.
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