The Federal Government has invested N130.8 billion over the past five years in equipping primary healthcare centers (PHCs) nationwide.
According to The Nation, for 2024, the government has disbursed N25.8b with another 12.9 waiting to be disbursed.
The investment is part of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), a strategic initiative aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality while ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible to all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable.
The funds have been disbursed to 8,809 PHCs across the country, with at least one center in every political ward within each Local Government Area (LGA), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
During the same period, 1.96 million Nigerians were enrolled under the NHIA, broadening the scope of accessible health coverage.
According to Mukhtar Muhammad, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), the BHCPF aims to expand its coverage, doubling the number of PHCs in every ward by 2027.
However, Muhammad emphasised that PHCs can only access these funds if they meet strict fund-tracking criteria and if the state governments contribute the required 25% counterpart funding.
During a recent BHCPF media engagement in Abuja, Muhammad highlighted the significant challenges hindering the implementation of mandates despite the significant milestones it has been able to achieve since its inception.
The BHCPF is designed to remove barriers to accessing primary healthcare, especially for those in remote areas.
These centers, being the closest healthcare facilities to the people, are intended to provide quality care with trained health workers and necessary equipment.
The fund is disbursed through four main gateways: the NHIA (48.75%), NPHCDA (45%), NEMTC (5%), and NCDC (1.25%).
According to Muhammad, the necessity of the BHCPF becomes clear when considering Nigeria’s alarming health statistics. Despite representing only 2.4% of the world’s population, Nigeria accounts for 10% of global maternal deaths.
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