Jigawa Govt charges JiMAF to monitor N2 billion equity Fund
By Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa state government has urged Civil Society Organizations and media practitioners operating under the umbrella of Jigawa Maternal Newborn and Child Health accountability Forum ( JiMAF) to monitor and ensure Justice on N2 billion released for social security on health.
The call was made by the commissioner of health, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa during a one day Interactive Dinner Meeting to celebrate passage of SPHCDA and JICHMA amended laws held at Tahir Guest Palace Dutse.
The commissioner who described JiMAF as vibrant forum of CSOs and Media on supporting healthcare delivery in Jigawa, urged them to give factual figures in their reports after monitoring of any projects.
Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa explained that an effective healthcare delivery system for all at all levels is one of the Malam Umar Namadi 12 point agenda and government would do everything within it’s power to achieves the objective goals.
According to the commissioner “to that regard the state government has employed about 1200 medical personnel including over 100 doctors. And presently governor Malam Umar Namadi gave another approval for recruiting another 1,500 J-health workers all in efforts to provide adequate and qualified medical personnel at all the health facilities across the state”.
He emphasis that “the government also embarked on the wall fencing, renovations and upgrading some medical facilities across the state to conveniently accommodated the the state’s social insurance cover project which under it would provides free healthcare services to over 140,000 vulnerable across the 287 political wards in the state”.
Dr Kainuwa added that “so far government completed the work in seven hospitals, 30 is ongoing and the work in 30 hospitals is about be awarded”.
“I’m happy to inform you that the state government has set aside the sum of N2 billion for social insurance to cover equality funds including formal and informal sectors”.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Comrade Musa Mu’azu, commended governor Malam Umar Namadi for the assenting the revised Jigawa State Primary Health care development Agency (JSPHCDA) and that of Jigawa State Contributory Health Management Agency (JICHMA) bill into Law.
Comrade Musa Mu’azu who assured the forum readiness to follow up the implementation of two amended laws, also commended members of the Jigawa state house of speedy passage of the laws.
While delivering his remarks, the state Team Leader ECP-PERL and also technical adviser to the governor Alhaji Isah Surajo noted that, Jigawa State Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Accountability Forum (JiMAF) is a conglomeration of different Civil Society Organizations, Media and Government representatives working to facilitate the reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Jigawa state..
“The Organizations is using this medium to appreciate the State Government for the passage of the revised Jigawa State Primary Health care development Agency (JSPHCDA) and that of Jigawa State Contributory Health Management Agency (JICHMA) bill into Law. We believe this will strengthen the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and promote equitable distribution of human resource for health, ensure health equity, access for poor and vulnerable, achieving Universal Health coverage and improve health outcomes”.
He noted that the JiMAF with support from PERL-ECP is association with the good working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in Jigawa state.
He then expressed appreciation on the good synergy between the state government and development partners working in the state. “This made to us celebrate the passage the law, as well as sensitize the civil societies on the amendments and come up with strategies that will complement the implementation of the amended and additional provisions of the laws”.
