Saving One Million Lives: Minister cautions against misappropriation of funds

THE Minister of Health, Prof. Isacc  Adewole has advised the Health commissioners in the North -East to carefully utilize the save one million lives funds given to them  by the Federal Govenment in Abuja  at the launching the programme, to enable them receive more funds in the second phase of the programme in 2017.

The Minister alerted the Health Commissioners on Thursday 20th October 2016 while speaking at the operationalization meeting of the save one million lives programme organized for the Commissioners of Health of Bauchi, Gombe Taraba, Adamawa and Borno  held in Maiduguri,, Borno State.

It should be recalled that in July 2016 Federal Government has presented a cheque of 1.5 million US Dollars each to the 36 states of the federation and FCT to improve maternal and child health  in their states.

Speaking during the meeting, the minister said: “Today I am to share knowledge with you on how you can derive maximum benefits from the save one million lives initiatives. I am impressed with your presence, however, I must say it clearly that the money given to you should not replace your budget for health , rather  it is an addition, it is to augment, do not allow it to be the only budget for health in your state.”

“I hope we can still score you on your budgetary allocation on health, how much do you budget for health, how much do you release, how do you utilise it, how many lives do you save, how do you improve governance structure among others”. He stressed”

Adewole said that the save one million lives initiative gives room for practical assessment of health performance and determines whether state government  would be able to receive more funds in the next coming year or otherwise.