From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Civil Rights Concern(CRC), JDPC Nnewi and the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) have in their meeting reviewed the first quarter performance of Anambra State budget and financial report.
In a press statement signed by the Executive Director(ED) of CRC, Mr Okey Onyeka, the group said that the review is part of the ongoing activities of the partners who are supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP)
The aim of the partners who are working on strengthening public accountability for results and knowledge(SPARK) according to Okey Onyeka is to understand the trend on the performance of government budget and financial reports for the quarter to support discussions for improved maternal health care.
He said that the activity also targeted building collaborations among budget stakeholders for information sharing to enable stakeholders render support for improved services in health.
Mr Onyeka pointed out that the groups realized that the recurrent revenue available to the State within the first quarter was N68.5 million and 23.0 million was used for capital expenditures while N9.9 million was used for recurrent expenditure and a transfer of N78.8 million was made to the capital account
Onyeka noted that the funding for the free maternal healthcare of the state for pregnant women (ANC and delivery) was well provided for, at N750 million in the current year.
He however said that the challenge is the utilization of the approved budget in this regard, within the quarters.
ED CRC noted that 2.8% of the total recurrent state revenue of government was spent in healthcare amidst the other highly prioritized sectors such as roads, education, and building.
“The balance after funding capital and recurrent expenditures for the quarter 1 of 2024 was over 50% of the recurrent revenue of the State.
“In respect of implemented projects in health sector only three items in health got funded within the quarter, these are effective governance of the health system which got 15% of its budget, Provision of adequate and modern health infrastructure for health services delivery that got 8.3% of its budget and Provision of universal health coverage and financial risk protection for citizens that got 39.50% of its overhead budget.
“After examining the first quarter performance and related policies in the health sector, the group observed that the BHCPF should be part of accounts reported on by the Accountant Geneneral and Audit Department of the State.
“Health care makes significant contributions to other sectors of development and growth of the State Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and observed that more funding should be made available for the health sector programmes within the quarters.
Okey said that the meeting was attended by stakeholders from the government sector, civil societies and community based organisations.