A Round Table Discussion on public investment in Health and Human Capital Development (HCD) in Kaduna State calls for more investment in the health sector as the fastest way to accelerated economic growth and development of the state.
Organized the Development Forum in conjunction with the state government; the roundtable forum was organized to discuss how the state can accelerate economic growth and development. However, most of the presentations centered on how investment in the health sector can increase economic development possibilities for the state.
PAS coalition project Director in Kaduna state, Malam Mustapha Jumare highlighted that achieving sustainable economic growth and social development goals hinges strongly on health performance.
“For long, the health sector is perceived as an expense rather than a critical business investment. Investment in health saves lives and is also a vital investment in the wider economy. Poor health adversely affected education outcome, productivity and reduces labor force participation.” He told the roundtable
Jumar further explained that although the State has made laudable strides in the right direction towards achieving healthcare delivery through the establishment of KADCHMA, KADHSMA including the swift establishment of the HCD council to further foster development of the council, he said investment in the health sector is the only faster way to improve the economic growth of the state
While giving the status of government spending on health and why investment in health can improve economic growth, he disclosed that FP investment could boost GDP by nearly 30% by 2050.
“Health investment of N1 saves N3 in health care cost. Investment in health will improve the poor health indices, and Investment in child health care will improve HCD in Kaduna State.” He added
He further explained that the 3 main building blocks to improving the economy are Health, Education, and productivity. Of these, health is the first without which the economy collapses.
He also highlighted how the huge budgetary gap in the health sector had impacted the state’s ability to meet its desired growth. He, therefore, recommended timely release of budget to improve outcome and contribute to Kaduna State Economic growth, called on LMC and MOF to prioritize health sector fund release and cashback requisition memos, and urged the SMOH to develop a system to track requisition memo development by program officers actively.
Participants at the roundtable include the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State. Hon. Commissioners of Health and the Commissioner for Human Service and Social Development, Chairman House Committee on Health who a member of KDHOA represented, SA to the Governor on Health Care Delivery, SA to the Governor Social Protection, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, over 10 development Partners working on Health (numbering about 10), many CSOs.
