FG to increase budgetary allocation to health sector in 2017 – Udoma

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has disclosed that the Federal Government will increase budgetary allocation to the health sector in next year’s budget in its commitment to improving the sector in Nigeria.
Udoma made this known when the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, visited him in his office.
He said: “This administration is committed to providing adequate fund for the health sector. We hope to up scale the budget for health next year compared to what is obtained in this year’s budget.
“Also, we are designing effective policies to improve the sector.”
While commending the WHO for aligning their programmes with government’s priorities, Udoma also stated that health care provision is a top priority for the present administration.
The minister congratulated Dr. Moeti for being the first woman to hold the office of the WHO Regional Director and also praised her for fighting against diseases like AIDS in Africa.
Speaking earlier, Moeti commended Nigeria for her success in handling a number of diseases like Ebola and also removing Nigeria from the list of endemic countries suffering from Polio, while calling for effort to sustain the gains achieved so far.
She said: “How Nigeria has successfully handled number of diseases like Ebola and Polio has been commendable, especially in the area of preparedness, surveillance etc.
“We need to sustain the polio gain until totally removed.”
Moeti further stated that WHO is pleased with Nigeria for identifying and making the health sector as a top priority.