Only 4%, or N5.7 billion, of Anambra State’s overall budget proposal for the fiscal year 2023 was allotted for the health sector, according to the state health commissioner, Afam Obidike, on Friday, according to Anaedoonline.ng.
Mr. Obidike made the remarks while defending the health ministry’s budget in front of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health.
He said: “The Ministry of Health got about N5.7 billion which is about four per cent of the total budget of the state. Yes, it did not meet the 15 per cent target agreed upon in the Abuja Declaration but we understand the challenges the state is facing.
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“We have other partners and the private sector who would assist the health sector via counterpart funding.
“It is not like health is not important, but we are part of the government and we understand that the major focus of this administration is road infrastructure.”
In highlighting some of the Ministry’s accomplishments in 2022, the commissioner stated that approximately 300 health employees were recruited to meet the state’s shortfall of health personnel.
“When I assumed office, about 19 government hospitals were without health workers. Doctors to patients ratio was one doctor to 30,000 patients.
“But with this recruitment, the ratio is now one doctor to 10,000 patients. We are working to improve on this and ensure regular training for our health personnel too.
“We now have cervical and breast cancer screening centres in 10 health facilities in partnership with the World Health Organisation to save our women from the scourge of cancer, ” he said.
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Mr. Obidike stated that the ministry intended to accomplish more in 2023 in order to make healthcare accessible and inexpensive to all inhabitants of the state.
“In 2023, we plan to renovate and digitise three general hospitals in Ekwulobia, Umueri and Enugwu-Ukwu, we hope to screen and treat about 5,000 women with cervical cancer.
“We plan to improve on the Blood bank system, Ambulance system as well as expand the telemedicine system to reach more health centres.
“The Oxygen plant established in 2019, was not properly maintained and it went moribund. We are already diagnosing the problem and it will be functional soon,” he said.
In response, Obinna Emeneka, chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, lamented the low financial allocation to health, claiming that it will have a negative impact on the development of the health system.
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Also addressing, Dr Cater Dike-Umeh, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, praised the ministry for its budget performance in 2022 and encouraged the government not to compromise on people’s health.
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