The Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP) has committed $145 million World Bank-assisted project to strengthen health facilities in North East region.
The National Project Coordinator of Nigeria State Health Investment Project, Dr Lekan Olubajo, disclosed this during the closing ceremony of a five-day training for health services providers at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi.
He said that all business plans for implementation of performance-based financing interventions for all the health facilities had been concluded.
He promised to give technical support for the success of the project.
Besides, he said that it was not possible to escape if any fraud was detected.
The state project coordinator, Dr Adamu Mohammed, gave the overview of the five-day training, saying that the overall objective of the training was to improve the knowledge and skills of the participants on how to implement performance-based financing interventions.
He said that it centered on Performance-based Financing project cycle, Business plan, essential drugs management, financial management and procurement guidelines among others.
In her remarks, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Halima Mukaddas, said that the state had already committed $200,000 (N61m) for saving one million lives as its counterpart funding of the project.
According to her, the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has signed a contract agreement for the purchase of health services with 15 health facilities and General Hospital Dass under the additional financing of Nigeria state health investment project .
She said that since inception of the administration of Governor Mohammed Abubakar, a large proportion of resources had been committed to ensure Health sector attained higher position.
Mukaddas stated that a lot of innovation was put in place including allocation of large budget provision to health sector in 2016.
According to her, this year, 16.9% representing N23 billion had been committed to health sector, adding, “it’s no more news that state and partners are working tirelessly to improve health services in the state.”
Also, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa, said that the project would make relevant change in the health indices of the state.
Gamawa was represented by Dr Fanti Ahmed, the director, Disease Control and Immunization of the agency.
He said that the project would help remove financial barriers that had militated against quality health services.
The training was participated by 48 service providers from 15 health facilities and General Hospital, Dass.
