The Kogi state government in her 2021 budget approved N50 million for the Primary Healthcare Development Agency to purchase medical equipment and the sum of N31.5 billion for the office of the governor.
A breakdown of the 2021 budget that is published on the state website shows that the Primary Healthcare Development Agency got the approval of N50, 000,000 for the purchase of medical equipment, while the office of the governor got N31, 555,338,375 approvals.
This is even as the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s core mandate is to control preventable diseases, improve access to basic health services, and strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) across communities in the 21 Local Government Areas.
The amount that is the state 2021 appropriation contained in the budget has since been published on the state website which is part of the government actions to show its transparency in the way it carries out governance activities.
This is even as visits by MAWA FOUNDATION to some communities in Kogi, particularly in Lokoja-the state capital, Igalamela, Idah, Ofu, Ankpa, Ayingba, Dekina, show residents suffer grave healthcare inadequacy mainly as a result of dilapidated hospitals and lack of healthcare facilities.
Still, the Kogi state government, rather than invest in healthcare delivery, has put a meager amount of money into healthcare while allocating a huge amount that is almost the entire annual resources of the state to the office of the governor.
The action of the state, therefore, contradicts the primary purpose of government, which is the security of lives, properties, and the welfare of the people.
The state, however, in her 2021 allocation, has chosen to put the ruling class interest higher above the interest of the masses that depend on the state intervention to address their healthcare challenges.
Although we are aware that the allocations and approvals have been finalized since they have become an appropriation law, we appeal to the Kogi State government to re-allocate resources, so that the health sector will have reasonable fund to carry out its function and provide healthcare to the poor particularly the rural residents who are the most hit.