By Ahmed Idris
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved its N6.07 trillion National Health Strategic Plan 2.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in Abuja.
The minister told State House correspondents that the new plan covers 2018 to 2022 and involves 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said 38.2 per cent of the total amount would be spent on human resources, 34 per cent on medicines, commodities and supplies while seven percent would be for infrastructure.
“We are reengineering the health sector,” he stated, adding that the previous plan 1 ranging from 2010 to 2015, was only able to achieve less than two of its 52 targets. There was an attempt to come up with a plan between 2010 and 2015.
“That plan had 52 targets but regrettably, we were only able to achieve two of the 52 targets. So, we spent a long time, trying to put in place the second plan. So, it took us about two years to get this second plan done. It involves all states of the federation. It includes the Federal Capital Territory, and our development partners participated in the presentation and the approval of the plan.
“The plan was approved at the National Council on Health meeting that took place in Kano on 21st of June, 2018. The plan essentially has five strategic pillars and 15 priority areas.
“The five strategic pillars include: enabling environment for our attainment of health sector good, increased utilisation of essential package of healthcare services, strengthening our health system, and protection from health emergencies as well as health financing. In total, this new plan has 15 thematic areas, 48 strategic objectives and 282 interventions that will help us to really improve the healthcare delivery that will offer our people,” he said.
The minister also told journalists that the federal government is working on a plan to banish cholera from Nigeria for five years which includes investment in water and general education about health and prevention.
Also speaking, Minister State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said the council approved N5 billion for road construction in Akwa Ibom state.
He said the council also approved N1.097 billion argumentation for the N28 billion Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road Section 1 with a timeline for the Abuja-Lokoja road is 18 months.
The minister said N78 million was also approved by the council for design, finance and operation of 750 kilowatts power generation facility, and N73 million augmentation for construction of N1.2 billion bridge in Samaila local government of Kano state with timeline of 12 months.
