The Kaduna State Government has been praised for always setting aside more than 15 percent of its yearly budget for the health sector.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, Mr. Amos Gwamna Magaji, gave the commendation during a visit to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Friday.
The Committee, which paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, noted that the allocation follows the Abuja Declaration agreement.
Mr. Magaji also expressed happiness that the money was not just allocated but also released on time, saying this shows the state is serious about funding healthcare.
He further praised Kaduna for ranking top in healthcare delivery in Nigeria last year, describing it as a strong step in improving human capital development.
However, the Chairman raised concern about the high number of women dying during childbirth in Nigeria, calling the situation unacceptable.
In her response, Dr. Balarabe restated the government’s commitment to building human capital and reducing maternal deaths.
She said losing women during childbirth is very sad and urged the committee to consider providing special ambulances for hard-to-reach communities as part of national health plans.
The Deputy Governor also praised the lawmakers for visiting health facilities to check how the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) is being used.
According to her, such visits are important to ensure accountability and to improve health services for Nigerians.
