Director General of NCDC Calls for Enhanced Health Budget Allocation and tracking

Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, has emphasized the need for greater budget allocation, release, and monitoring in the health sector. Dr. Adetifa expressed hope that the administration led by President Bola Tinubu would attract more funding for health initiatives, particularly after the identification of priority areas through the Joint External Evaluation (JEE).

Speaking at an event centered around the JEE, a global initiative involving expert assessment of a country’s readiness and response capabilities, Dr. Adetifa underlined the significance of prioritizing health. He stated that health encompasses more than just capital projects like buildings and facilities; it necessitates investments in human capital, equipment, training, and quality systems. Dr. Adetifa stressed that once there is a political commitment to prioritize health, increased funding will follow.

He added, “I believe some states are committing quite a bit of their budget to health. What we need to see is to make that a groundswell. I believe with the agenda already set by the government, led by President Bola Tinubu, we will see more domestic funding to health. We expect to see more funding, especially with identification for priorities from JEE evaluation.”

Dr. Mary Boyd, the Country Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), explained the significance of the JEE process. She highlighted its collaborative approach, which allows both countries and external evaluators to assess progress made and areas where improvements are required.

She noted, “We are confident, based on an internal evaluation, that Nigeria has made progress. Again, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter the score. What is important is the information on how to maintain the places that we score high. In the places where we have low scores, what are the things we need to put in place?”