As part of measures to ensure accountability in the spending and implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Kaduna State, Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), on Saturday commenced a two-day training for members of a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), known as Kaduna State Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM).

State Strategic Planning Coordinator, MNCH2 Dr. Tijjani Maji, said the fund is to ensure adequate and sustainable funding that will be efficiently and equitably used to provide quality health services and ensure financial risk protection in access to health services for all Nigerians, particularly the poor and most vulnerable.

MNCH2 is a Department for International Development (DFID)-funded project to improve the quality of life for women and children through the empowerment of communities and the strengthening health systems in Northern Nigeria.

He said the BHCPF is a framework for the implementation of basic healthcare services in Nigeria covering over 20years.

His words: “The BHCPF serves as a mechanism to operationalise the NHAct, as well as to help Nigeria achieve the goals of UHC.

“It increases access to primary health care services for all Nigerians, especially poor and vulnerable, through State Health Insurance Schemes and a set of free services at PHCs, as well as emergency treatment.

“The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF or “The Fund”) is established under Section 11 of the National Health Act (NHA Act 2014), as the principal funding vehicle for the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS)

“The fund serves to increase the fiscal space and overall financing to the health sector to assist Nigeria achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).”

Maji said the programme will be funded by the Federal Government annual grant of not less than one per cent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF);

Grants from Donor/Partners and (WB, DFID, USAID, BMGF), and other sources that may be identified by the government.

He added that the major group of people expected to benefit to the fund are, pregnant women, children under five (5) years, the elderly in their 85 years of age, the disabled, the poor and Vulnerable.

“The total fund that will be received for the purpose, 5% will be met for operations cost. The balance of 95% will be distributed to the gateways such as; National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) 50% to purchase services,” he stated.

He said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will get 45% for support of services, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), will get 5% for emergencies.

He added that the funds that will flow to the facilities, in this case Primary Healthcare Centres, will come from both the NHIS and the NPHCDA.

On the objective and purpose of the training, MNCH2 Accountability Coordinator, Elkana Aliyu, said the CSOs are expected to have the basic knowledge of the BHCPF, and to be able to situate the BHCPF within the context of UHC.

He added that, they can also be able to: “Explain the rationale for establishing the BHCPF, identify the beneficiaries of the intervention.

“Explain the BHCPF governance structure and the roles and responsibilities of BHCPF stakeholders at the federal level, state and local and community level. Agree and develop action to support implementation of BHCPF in Kaduna.”

Co-chair of KADMAM, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare, represented by the Secretary, Isah Gidado, appreciated organisers of the training for building capacity of its members.

He called on participants to take the training with utmost seriousness so as to achieve the objectives.

“It is really a big opportunity for us as a coalition, and promise to do our best developing actions for the implementation of the fund and ensure it is adequately utilised,” he added.