The House of Representatives Committee on Health Services has commended the Kaduna State Government for consistently allocating over 15 per cent of its annual budget to the health sector.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Amos Magaji, gave the commendation on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
Magaji said the committee was impressed with the alignment of the state’s health budget with the 2001 Abuja Declaration, which mandated African Union member states to allocate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to health.
He further stated that the timely release of funds signalled strong political will and commitment to healthcare financing in the state.
“We are particularly pleased that the allocations are not only consistent but are also backed by prompt cash releases.
“This demonstrates seriousness in addressing healthcare needs,” he said.
Magaji also lauded Kaduna State for ranking top in healthcare delivery nationwide in 2024, attributing the achievement to the government’s investments in human capital development.
He, however, expressed concern over the high rate of maternal mortality in the country, describing the situation as “unacceptable.”
In her response, Balarabe reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving health outcomes, particularly in reducing maternal deaths.
She said: “The loss of women during childbirth is tragic. We must do more as a nation to address this.”
The deputy governor urged the committee to consider supporting the provision of specialised ambulances for hard-to-reach areas as part of national efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
Balarabe also commended the lawmakers for embarking on on-the-spot assessments of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) implementation.
According to her, such oversight is essential for ensuring accountability and improving the delivery of healthcare services across the country.
