The Lafiya – UK Support for Health in Nigeria has trained Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), to review and track 2025 health budget in Yobe.
The partnership also focused on developing an advocacy plan to fast track sustainable reforms in the health sector in the state.
The Lafiya programme is a seven-year UK Government supplier contract through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office which began in February 2020.
It is being implemented by a consortium of seven partners led by the Palladium Group and aimed at improving health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable in Nigeria.
The Co-chair of the Yobe State Voice and Accountability Mechanism (YoVAM), Bala Suleiman said this at the end of a two-day meeting on Monday in Damaturu.
He said the state had allocated 15 per cent of the 2025 budget to the health sector, adding that the CSOs would adopt mechanisms to track the release, implementation and judicious use of the funds in accordance with the Federal Government Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative.
Suleiman, who is also the Director of Nursing Services in the Yobe Ministry of Health and Human Services, commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni, for the feat achieved.
The Co-chair of the CSOs in the state, Mr Baba Kuchichi said the meeting seeks to analyse allocation, identify funding, service delivery and implementation gaps, as well as adopt sound measures to bridge the gaps.
According to him, the CSOs are open to collaboration with development partners towards improving health outcomes in the state.
Also, Secretary of the Knowledge Management Committee, Al-Sheik Mustapha Damaturu lauded the gesture, describing it as a success story.
He urged the government to ensure effective implementation of the budget, to enhance healthcare service delivery in the state.
NAN
