President Muhammadu Buhari has released $55.5 million to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for women healthcare project.
Each of the states and FCT would get $1.5 million, Buhari said.
The women quality healthcare initiative is on the platform of government’s “Saving One Million Lives Initiative’’.
The initiative is co-sponsored development partners especially, the United States Government, the World Bank, the European Union and Department for International Development.
President Buhari announced the release of the money when he inaugurated the Primary Health Care Centre for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria at Kuchigoro.
Buhari said in Abuja that the provision of quality health care service would reverse the poor health indices in the country.
He said the administration would fulfill the promises made to the people.
“I am hopeful that our women will no more be dying needlessly during childbirth; our children will no more be dying needlessly as a result of vaccine preventable diseases or common ailment; access to health care will not be limited because of lack of money to pay.
“I want to assure Nigerians that Government will continue to ensure that great numbers of Nigerians have access to quality basic health care services.;;
The National Health Act, 2014 for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, he said, was in the process of being implemented.
Buhari said that the inauguration of the Health Centre marked the beginning of revitalization of the first 109 Primary Health Care facilities in the 36 states and FCT.
According to him, the vision of his administration is to revitalise 10,000 Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria using a phased approach.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, announced that the ministry has developed the third National Health Policy under the guidance and support of a former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo.
He said the ministry also developed Guidelines for the utilisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to ensure transparency and accountability in the country’s health sector.
The minister enjoined the private sector to participate in the management and implementation of various health services across the country.