The Kaduna State PAS coalition supported the Ministry of Health to organize budget expenditure validation meeting with a view to ensure that the 2020/2021 health budget aligns with the State’s strategic plan and the State’s health blueprint.

Nine MDAs under the SMoH attended the validation meeting that has in attendance PAS coalition members from all the 5 NGOs. The MDAs presented their draft year 2021 budget based on the envelope given to them for observations, discussion and recommendations, ahead of the budget defense in the State House of Assembly in the coming week.

The MDAs, whose 2021 budget proposals were validated include, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Agency (KADCHMA), Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna State Barau of Drugs Users and Substance Abuse Agency (KADBUSA), Kaduna State Drug Supply Management Agency (KADSMA), Shehu Idris College of Health & Technology Makarfi (SICHST), KADSACA, Ministry of Health, and College of Nursing and Midwifery.

Participants Observations:

The entire health budget was reduced by 50%, due to reduction in revenue as a result of Covid19. Three out of the MDAs exceeded their ceiling. KADSACA’s capital budget of 13m was grossly inadequate, while the amount budgeted for recurrent sensitization was very little irrespective of the drop in the State’s indices on HIV/AIDs.

KACHMA’s 2020 budget of 430m was revised to 206m, which was released in four trenches. This affected the coverage of vulnerable persons stipulated in the act establishing the authority. Since the commencement of the scheme, only six (6) LGAs have been reached with issue of weak sensitization across the State. It was also noted that the ceiling given to KACHMA was 680m compared to what was in the act.

KADBUSA’s poor recurrent allocation of 1.2m for mobilization and sensitization as against concentration on establishing more rehabilitation centers in four areas in the State was noted. With regards to CON&M, allocation to colleges distributed for similar items should be grouped into one code.

SPHCDA exceeded its ceiling. Work has started on the new set of 255 PHCs for renovations, with only few to be completed in the initial 255. However, adjustment will be made to ensure that each ward has a standard and well equipped PHC. The need for a holistic renovation and procurement of equipment etc. in one contract was identified, and budget for renovation should come first followed by equipment.

Mal. Mustapha Jumare, IIGES-PAS made some observations on the budget for renovation of the second phase of 255 PHCs. He observed that some of the 255 PHCs renovated in the first phase were not up to standard and were not equipped. Also, no budget line item captured the upgrading of the existing 255 PHCs in the proposed 2021 budget.

Other issues raised during the validation meeting were;

• Poor allocation to the State’s health MDAs in the 2021 proposed budget.
• The revised 2020 budget was one billion but the envelope given for 2021 was N430 million naira
• The revised SPHCDA budget for 2020 was N5.86 billion, but the envelope given for 2021 was 3 billion.

After the presentation by MDAs, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Baloni commended the MDAs for the job well-done and urged them to be mindful not to exceed the Budget ceiling. She urged them to critically detail their proposals to avoid cancelation during the State’s budget defense. She then thanked and commended the dRPC-PAS for supporting the Ministry and urged all MDAs to effect the proposed changes before the budget harmonization and defense committee sits.